Three-day ceasefire in Ukraine that was unilaterally declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month was set to come into effect at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday (midnight Moscow time), as Russia prepares to mark the anniversary of its World War II Victory Day on Friday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Ukraine stood by its offer to observe a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Russia, while Russia had made no response to the proposal. Zelenskiy was speaking in his nightly video address hours before a three-day ceasefire proposed by Russia was to go into effect to mark the anniversary of the World War Two victory over Nazi Germany.

Russia announced the start of a ceasefire with Ukraine, lasting for three days, as previously announced by Vladimir Putin, according to Russian media. Despite the lack of official confirmation from the Ministry of Defense,