Russia offers Ukraine May 8-9 ceasefire amid WWII anniversary, but threatens major reprisals in same breath

President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a two-day ceasefire in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, to come into effect on May 8 and May 9, marking the anniversary of Nazi Germany's capitulation and the end of World War II in Europe in 1945. 

Russia's Defense Ministry announced the unilateral offer, and also said it counted on the Ukrainian side to follow suit. 

Should Ukraine decline and attack the May 9 commemorations in Moscow later in the week, the Defense Ministry said, Russia would launch a "massive missile attack" on "the center" of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in response. 

"Despite the capabilities at our disposal, Russia has previously refrained from such actions on humanitarian grounds," the ministry said in a statement. 

"We are warning the civilian population of Kyiv and staff at foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city in a timely manner," it said. 

What is the shared significance of May 8 and 9 to Russia and Ukraine? 

Nazi Germany formally capitulated at 11:01 p.m. Berlin time on May 8, 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe. 

The time was specifically chosen to grant a separate day to the former Soviet Union to celebrate what Russia still calls the "Great Patriotic War," with the clocks having already ticked past midnight and into May 9 in Moscow. 

Since Russia's invasion, Ukraine has moved its day of commemoration from May 9 to May 8 in line with Western Europe and the US. 

As a constituent component of the Soviet Union situated between Berlin and Moscow, Ukraine suffered immense losses in World War II. Estimates vary, but they concur that Ukrainians were second only to ethnic Russians in terms of total Soviet deaths in the war. 

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How did Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy respond? 

In a response on social media, President Voldoymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine had received "no official appeal" on ceasing hostilities from Russia. He suggested a different, earlier start to a ceasefire instead. 

"We believe that human life is incomparably more valuable than the 'celebration' of any anniversary. In this regard, we are announcing a ceasefire regime, starting from 00:00 on the night of 5 to 6 May," Zelenskyy said, arguing that this left sufficient time, just over a day, to arrange for the guns to fall silent. 

"We will act in a mirror fashion, starting from the specified moment. It is time for the Russian leaders to take real steps to end their war, if the Russian Ministry of Defense already believes that it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine's goodwill," Zelenskyy wrote. 

It was difficult to infer, at least from the English-language wording, whether this was intended as an open-ended offer that could then run through the May 8-9 window or not. 

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What had Ukraine previously said about the truce suggestion?

President Vladimir Putin first floated the idea of the truce last week, amid his phone call with US President Donald Trump. 

Ukraine subsequently said it would seek details from Washington about the offer. 

Speaking at a European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, earlier on Monday, Zelenskyy had said that Russia's lower-key plans for the May 9 ceremony showed it was vulnerable. 

"Russia has announced a May 9 parade in Moscow without military equipment," he said, alluding to a recent Defense Ministry decision to halt the typical parade of military hardware through the capital. 

"If that happens, it will be the first time in many, many years. They cannot afford military equipment — and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square. This is telling. It shows they are not strong now," Zelenskyy said. 

Edited by: Alex Berry