Russia declares a truce in Ukraine to mark Victory Day

Key Points:

• Russia's Defense Ministry announced a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Friday and Saturday to mark the 81st anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II, warning of a massive missile strike on Kyiv if the truce is disrupted.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared a truce starting at midnight Wednesday, with no specified end date, pledging to respond in kind to Russia's actions and urging the Kremlin to take genuine steps to end the war.
• Russia is preparing a scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow without tanks or military equipment for the first time in nearly 20 years, citing security concerns over potential Ukrainian drone attacks.
• The ceasefire announcements follow a pattern of previous short-lived truces that had little impact, with Russia also restricting cellphone internet in major cities to prevent drone threats during the holiday.
• Victory Day remains a significant patriotic event in Russia, with President Putin using it to justify the Ukraine war; this year, some foreign leaders, including Slovakia's Prime Minister, plan to attend the parade despite tensions.