Russia says it will still observe 3-day ceasefire, but respond if attacked – National [Video]

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Russian forces still planned to cease fire in Ukraine from May 8-10 as per President Vladimir Putin’s orders, but would respond if Ukrainian forces tried to strike Russian positions.

Putin on April 28 declared a three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 – when Putin will host international leaders on Moscow’s Red Square, including Chinese President Xi Jinping – and May 10.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has so far appeared to rule out such a brief ceasefire, saying he is only ready to sign up to a ceasefire that would last at least 30 days, an idea Putin has said needs a lot of work before it could become a reality.