Russia: Kyiv breaks limited three-day ceasefire

Russia clarified on May 9 that a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine, announced by former US President Donald Trump, would not be extended beyond May 11. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed the agreement was limited to May 9, 10, and 11, with negotiations still paused and no clear timeline for resumption. The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire by attacking Russian forces and civilian targets using drones and artillery. Moscow claimed it responded to these alleged violations, though Ukraine denied responsibility, countering that Russia had violated an earlier ceasefire declared by Kyiv. Trump had proposed the ceasefire as part of a broader effort to end the conflict, including a prisoner swap involving 1,000 detainees from each side. He expressed hope for an extension, stating, ‘I’d like to see a big extension. It could be.’ However, the Kremlin dismissed urgency, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that resolving the conflict was a long-term process with complicated details. The ceasefire was tied to Ukraine’s Victory Day celebrations, marking the 83rd anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II. Russian forces have been engaged in Ukraine for over four years, with no significant territorial gains in the Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces remain entrenched along a line of fortified cities. Despite Trump’s diplomatic efforts, the Kremlin maintained that negotiations were not progressing. Ushakov reiterated that talks were on hold, with no immediate plans to resume discussions. The conflict, described as the deadliest in Europe since World War II, shows no signs of resolution despite periodic ceasefire attempts.