Putin's New Three-Day Ceasefire: Genuine Peace Gesture or PR Stunt?

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:41:16 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

**Putin's New Three-Day Ceasefire: Genuine Peace Gesture or PR Stunt?**

In light of ongoing tensions, Vladimir Putin's announcement of a three-day ceasefire raises critical questions regarding its sincerity and intent.

As fighting in Ukraine continues unabated, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a three-day unilateral ceasefire from May 8-10, ostensibly to observe the 80th anniversary of World War Two's conclusion. However, critics are questioning whether this gesture is a legitimate attempt to secure peace or merely a strategic public relations move. Ukraine has responded by challenging the timing of the truce and calling for an immediate and extended ceasefire, suggesting skepticism about Moscow's true intentions.

In a surprising move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a three-day unilateral ceasefire scheduled from 8 May to 10 May to coincide with commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. The Kremlin cites "humanitarian" reasons for this pause, similar to its previous 30-hour truce during Easter, but critics are left pondering its authenticity.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has expressed doubt regarding the announcement, questioning why a ceasefire could not be implemented sooner, suggesting it should last at least 30 days. He stated, "If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8th?" This reflects a growing frustration about Moscow's repeated offers for temporary pauses, which Ukraine has accused Russian forces of violating in the past.

In the backdrop of this announcement, former U.S. President Donald Trump has openly doubted whether Putin genuinely desires peace. Trump pointedly remarked on Truth Social that recent Russian missile attacks could imply a reluctance on Putin's part to halt hostilities. He called for different approaches to address the situation that might involve “banking” or “secondary sanctions.”

The White House, responding to Putin's offer, echoed a desire for a more permanent resolution, underscoring Trump's intention to see a long-term ceasefire that would conclusively end violence. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that Trump's administration was pushing both parties towards a comprehensive solution to stop the killings and bloodshed, hinting at growing impatience with the Kremlin's tactics.

Moreover, Russian officials are leveraging Putin's ceasefire announcement as a propaganda tool to position Ukraine's leaders as uncooperative. Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, insinuated that Ukrainian President Zelensky would likely reject the ceasefire as a method to cast Ukraine in a negative light.

This announcement of another temporary ceasefire comes amid ongoing skepticism from both Ukraine and Western leaders about Russia's commitment to peace, further complicating the landscape of continuing conflict in the region. With hesitation on all sides, the international community watches closely to see if this latest development signals a tangible shift towards resolution or remains an exercise in public relations.