Ukraine and Russia have announced separate ceasefire timelines ahead of Moscow’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations, with Kiev announcing it will halt hostilities before the ceasefire window outlined by the Kremlin.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would begin its ceasefire at midnight on 5–6 May, stating that no formal request had been made by Moscow on how the cessation of hostilities would work.“To date, there have been no official appeals to Ukraine regarding the modalities of cessation of hostilities that are being claimed on Russian social media,” Zelensky said on Twitter.Announcing Kiev’s position, he said, “In this regard, we are announcing a ceasefire regime starting at 00:00 (2100 GMT) on the night of 5–6 May. In the time left until that moment, it is realistic to ensure that the silence takes effect.”Ukraine said it would proceed with a ceasefire from that point, with Zelensky emphasizing humanitarian priorities over symbolic wartime commemorations.“We believe that human life is more valuable than any anniversary ‘celebration’,” he said.The Ukrainian president also criticized Russia’s focus on securing its Victory Day parade, saying, “It is time for Russian leaders to take real steps to end their war, especially since Russia’s Defense Ministry believes it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s goodwill.”Meanwhile, Russia said its own ceasefire would last from May 8 to 9 following an order issued by President Vladimir Putin to mark the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.“The ceasefire is declared to be held on May 8-9, 2026 in honor of the celebration of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War,” Moscow said in its statement.“We expect the Ukrainian side to follow this example,” it added.Russia’s Defense Ministry also issued a warning over any disruption of its commemorations, saying, “If the Kyiv regime attempts to carry out its criminal plans aimed at disrupting the celebration of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will retaliate with a massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv.”Victory Day, celebrated every year on May 9, commemorates the role of the Soviet Union in the defeat of Nazi Germany and honors the millions of people who died during World War II.