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Rival ceasefires declared as Victory Day approaches in Ukraine war

newsMay 5, 202633224

Russia announced a unilateral ceasefire for 9 May to hold Victory Day events, and President Vladimir Putin ordered 'empty skies' over the ceremonies. President Volodymyr Zelensky offered an open-ended truce and said Ukraine would begin a silence regime on Wednesday if Russia reciprocates, effectively proposing to start the pause three days earlier. Despite the rival ceasefires, Ukrainian forces struck one of Russia's top three refineries that supplies components for high-precision weapons, underscoring how fragile any pause could be. If Russia accepts Zelensky's offer, a reciprocal pause could reduce frontline fighting during Victory Day observances and create a brief diplomatic window, but continued strikes risk derailing that outcome.

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