Russian President Putin has announced a 3-day unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine. This ceasefire will come into effect from May 8. Putin has expressed hope that Ukraine will do the same. Earlier, Russia had announced a one-day ceasefire on April 20 on the occasion of Easter. This ceasefire is being done on the occasion of Russia’s 80th Victory Day. Russia organizes the Victory Day Parade every year on May 8 to celebrate victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. The Russian President’s office Kremlin has said that this ceasefire is being done on humanitarian grounds. It will start on the intervening night of May 7-8 and this ceasefire will end at midnight on May 10-11. Russia said – Kursk is completely in our control. The Russian army says that it has regained full control over the western Kursk region of the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that all the efforts of Ukraine in the Kursk region have completely failed. Russia’s top military commander Valery Gerasimov said that the last village remaining in the possession of Ukrainian soldiers has now been recaptured. This happened after Ukraine’s sudden attack eight months ago. Gerasimov also claimed that more than 76,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed or injured in the Kursk region. However, this claim could not be confirmed. Ukraine has rejected this claim. Ukraine says that its soldiers are still operating in the Russian border area, and has described Moscow’s claims as propaganda. Ukrainian army had to face Russian attacks in Kursk in the past months. Ukrainian army has faced heavy pressure in the Kursk region in the last few months. Due to 70 thousand Russian soldiers and heavy drone attacks, the Ukrainian army has had to retreat. Russia is running a big campaign to regain this area. The US-based think-tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a report on April 25 that Russian forces have recently made advances near the international border in Kursk Oblast (region) to drive out Ukrainian troops from their last remaining areas. ISW also reported that fighting continued in Russia’s northwestern Belgorod region on April 25. Russia admitted that North Korean soldiers supported in the war. During a video conference with Putin on Saturday, Russian commander Valery Gerasimov said that Gornal, the last village in the Kursk region, has been liberated from the Ukrainian army. Gerasimov also praised the courage of North Korean soldiers during the Russian counter-attack. This is the first time that Russia has acknowledged the involvement of North Korean soldiers in the army. In response, Putin told Gerasimov that Ukraine’s efforts have completely failed. Putin claimed that this would give Russia a way to advance on other fronts. The Russian army says that its troops have now taken control of several settlements of north-eastern Sumy in Ukraine, which is located near Kursk. Ukraine said – The war continues in Kursk. Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian army, reacting to the telegram, said that the battlefield remains difficult. But he also stressed that his troops still maintain their positions in Kursk and continue the offensive in the Belgorod region. Ukraine started this incursion last August to create a buffer zone between the two countries, preventing Russia from deploying troops on the eastern front of Ukraine. Trump said – Putin is fooling me, he does not want to stop the war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky sat face to face in the Vatican on Saturday and discussed the ceasefire. After this, Trump accused Russian President Vladimir Putin that he ‘does not want to stop the war.’ Meanwhile, the White House described the meeting between Trump and Zelensky as ‘very useful’ before the funeral of Pope Francis. Zelensky also said on X that the meeting was good and could become historic if the right results are achieved. This was the first meeting of the two leaders after the debate between Zelensky and Trump in February at the White House. In the meeting held at the White House, Trump and US Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of not being grateful for US help in the war against Russia.
