Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Victory Day, but Kyiv dismissed the move as a political stunt, demanding an immediate and longer-lasting truce.

The Kremlin announced that the ceasefire, set on “humanitarian grounds,” will run from 9:00 p.m. GMT on May 7 until the same time on May 10, coinciding with celebrations of Russia’s World War II victory over Nazi Germany — a major national holiday.

Moscow called on Ukraine to follow suit, warning that violations would be met with a “swift and adequate” military response.

“If we can cease fire now for 30 days instead of just three, let’s do it — and make it real, not just for a parade,” a Ukrainian official said, pressing for an immediate and comprehensive halt to hostilities.

The announcement comes amid a new U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the grinding three-year conflict. Previous ceasefires, including an Easter truce and a U.S.-brokered agreement to protect energy infrastructure, have collapsed amid mutual accusations of violations.

Fresh strikes underscored the ongoing bloodshed. A Russian drone attack on Monday damaged critical infrastructure in Cherkasy, central Ukraine, cutting gas supplies to residents. Russia’s Defense Ministry also claimed it shot down 119 Ukrainian drones overnight, mostly over its Bryansk border region.

Despite proposing the temporary truce, Moscow stuck to its broader demands: halting Western arms supplies to Ukraine and ending Kyiv’s mobilization efforts. The Kremlin reiterated its stated openness to “peace talks without preconditions,” though deep distrust remains on both sides.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the coming days would be “very critical” for U.S. engagement, hinting that American support for Ukraine could hinge on progress toward a durable ceasefire.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, flatly rejected the Russian offer, insisting that any credible peace effort must involve a full, reliable 30-day ceasefire.

“If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately,” Sybiha said.

With tens of thousands killed and no clear end in sight, the stakes for a breakthrough remain dangerously high.