Putin's order for three-day truce with Ukraine enters force

Putin's order for three-day truce with Ukraine enters force

Ukraine's airspace has been forced to close since Russia launched its offensive in February 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin's order for a three-day truce with Ukraine took effect Thursday, a move the Kremlin said would test Kyiv's readiness for peace but that Ukraine has slammed as a farce.

It was not clear whether either side was observing the ceasefire, even with world leaders -- including China's Xi Jinping, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Serbia's Aleksandar Vucic -- in Moscow for commemorations of the end of World War II.

It appeared relatively quiet overnight, though Ukraine's military said early Thursday that Russian forces had launched air strikes in the eastern Sumy region. Kyiv did not report any damage or casualties.

Putin unilaterally ordered the temporary truce to coincide with Moscow's Victory Day parade on Friday.

Ukraine never agreed to the proposal, has dismissed it as theatrics and called instead for a 30-day ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump has sought to end Moscow's three-year military assault on Ukraine since his inauguration in January, but has failed to ease hostilities between the enemies.

Hours before Putin's order was scheduled to enter force, Moscow and Kyiv staged aerial attacks, prompting airport closures in Russia and leaving at least two dead in Ukraine.

Russia's Nizhny Novgorod airport in the west was closed for about one-and-a-half hours early Thursday "to ensure flight safety of civil aircraft", according to a Federal Air Transport Agency spokesperson.

The Kremlin has said Russian forces will honour Putin's order for the duration of the holiday period, but will respond "immediately" if attacked.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call for a 30-day ceasefire in his evening address on Wednesday.

"We are not withdrawing this proposal, which could give diplomacy a chance. But the world is not seeing any response from Russia," he said.

- Push for direct talks -

Putin announced the truce last month, calling it a "humanitarian" gesture, after pressure from the United States to halt Russia's assault on Ukraine.

Putin rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional ceasefire in March.

Ukraine has said it does not believe Russia will adhere to the truce and accused Moscow of hundreds of violations during a previous, 30-hour ceasefire Putin ordered for Easter.

Russia, which launched a full-scale military offensive on Ukraine in 2022, fired over 100 drones and multiple ballistic missiles at its neighbour between late Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, killing a mother and her son, Kyiv said.

The White House has become increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress towards a peace deal between the warring sides, despite Trump's efforts.

US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday called on the two to enter direct talks.

- 'Peaceful atmosphere' -

Russia marks Victory Day with a grand parade of military equipment on Red Square and an address from Putin.

More than 20 world leaders were expected in Moscow for the May 9 parade.

"Our military and special services are taking all necessary measures to ensure that the celebration of the great victory takes place in a calm, stable and peaceful atmosphere," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

He also said authorities had jammed internet connections ahead of the parade, citing the threat from Ukraine.

"As long as guests are here, until May 10, we need to be ready for restrictions," he added.

Russian forces occupy one-fifth of Ukraine, and this spring hit the country with a string of deadly attacks on civilian areas.

- 'Nothing scares us' -

Russians from outside Moscow visiting the heavily policed capital on Wednesday ahead of the parade appeared unfazed.

"We are from Rostov-on-Don. Nothing scares us," said 22-year-old student Valeria Pavlova. The southern city serves as a command and logistics hub for the Ukraine offensive and has regularly been targeted.

"It's much calmer here," she added.

But scenes at airports in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other cities were more chaotic on Wednesday.

Ukraine launched a barrage of drones at Russia earlier in the day, forcing airports to halt traffic. Around 60,000 people's flights were disrupted, according to Moscow.

Kyiv's drone attacks disrupted about 350 flights Tuesday and Wednesday, Russia's Association of Tour Operators said.

Social media videos showed people sleeping on the floor and airports with rows of over a dozen planes queuing on the tarmac.

Ukraine's airspace has been forced to close since Russia launched its offensive in February 2022.

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