Ceasefire in Ukraine by order of Putin: A peace gesture or a temporary calm?

Amid tense atmosphere in the Ukrainian-Russian arena, a three-day ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv began early Thursday morning, in compliance with an order issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, seeking to test Ukraine's readiness for peace, as officially reported by Russian media. However, Kyiv rejected this initiative, demanding a comprehensive thirty-day ceasefire instead of a temporary truce, considering it insufficient to meet the need for real de-escalation. Meanwhile, Moscow is preparing to host over twenty world leaders on Friday as part of Victory Day celebrations, the most important national holiday in Russia, marked by a massive military parade through Red Square in the heart of the capital. Yet, preparations for this event have not been smooth, with reports of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow, causing disruptions in air traffic and temporary closure of several airports, including Vnukovo Airport on the outskirts of the capital and the main airport in Kaluga city to the south, resulting in delays and cancellations of dozens of flights, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. The Russian channel "Sho" on Telegram, citing security sources, reported that Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Moscow area yesterday evening. The hours leading up to the ceasefire saw a significant escalation, with intense exchanges of airstrikes between the two sides, resulting in the death of at least two people in Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed its forces' commitment to implementing Putin's ceasefire order, warning of an "immediate" response if attacked during the ceasefire period. Putin, who previously announced a similar ceasefire during Easter in April, stated that this initiative confirms Russia's desire to test the seriousness of the other party, despite the previous ceasefire not being fully respected by both sides. In March, Moscow rejected a proposal from Kyiv, supported by Washington, for an unconditional thirty-day ceasefire, sticking to its political and military positions. Thus, the next three days will swing between conditional de-escalation and ongoing tension, in a scene where historical dimension blends with military escalation, amidst global anticipation of the unfolding events.