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Ukrainian Cities Quiet In Early Hours Of Kremlin-Backed Cease-Fire

By RFE/RL May 08, 2025

Ukrainian cities were quiet early on May 8 after a three-day cease-fire declared by Russia came into effect, with no reports of long-range drones or missile launches after successive nights of bombardment.

The Ukrainian Air Force said, however, that Russian aircraft twice launched guided bombs on the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine in the early hours of May 8.

The Air Force said the first bombs were launched nearly three hours after the cease-fire came into force. The second round of bombs was launched within two hours, it said on Telegram. There was no word on damage.

Kyiv was quiet in the early hours of May 8. It was not immediately clear if there was a pause in fighting on the front line.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the 72-hour cease-fire to coincide with three days of events in Russia to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Putin is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders for Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, including a military parade on Red Square on May 9.

Other guests include Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has openly challenged the European Union's support for Ukraine, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who made the trip despite EU pressure that visiting Moscow could derail Serbia's ambitions to join the bloc.

The Kremlin said Putin will have bilateral meetings with them on May 9.

Ukraine has not committed to the cease-fire, saying Putin announced it only to create the impression he wants to end the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on May 7 that air raid sirens had sounded across Ukraine during the day after deadly overnight attacks.

"Overnight, there was yet another Russian attack with missiles and drones -- ballistic strikes and more than 140 attack drones in a single night," Zelenskyy said. "It was loud in Kyiv and in other cities. Tragically, there are wounded. Tragically, there are killed."

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine stood by its offer to observe a 30-day cease-fire in the war, which began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"Our proposal for a halt to the strikes, for a cease-fire of at least 30 days, still stands -- we are not withdrawing this proposal, as it offers a real chance for diplomacy," he said.

Russia has not responded to the 30-day cease-fire offer except for new strikes, he said.

"This clearly and obviously demonstrates to everyone who the source of the war is," he added.

Zelenskyy also appeared to acknowledge the numerous drone attacks that have been targeting Russian sites this week ahead of the World War II commemorations. The attacks forced the closure of airports in Moscow and the grounding of flights.

"And it is entirely fair that the Russian sky -- the sky of the aggressor -- is not calm either today," Zelenskyy said.

The United States proposed the 30-day cease-fire in March and Ukraine agreed. Russia has said such a measure could only be introduced after mechanisms to enforce and uphold it are put in place.

Both countries are under pressure from US President Donald Trump to bring a swift end to the war, the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Putin has said he is committed to achieving peace, but US Vice President JD Vance said the Russians "are asking too much" as the United States tries to bring the two sides to the table.

Vance also suggested Ukraine should not be fixated on the idea of a 30-day cease-fire. He said "the gulf is wide" but he is "reasonably optimistic" about the chances of ending the war.

"The step we need to take right now is we need Russia and Ukraine to start talking to one another," said Vance. "We think it's probably impossible for us to mediate the whole process fully without at least some direct negotiations."

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine- russia-war-ceasefire-world-war-two-anniversary- victory-day-putin-zelenskyy/33407971.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.