Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire from May 8-11 during Russia's celebrations marking 80 years since the end of World War II. The Kremlin said it believes that "the Ukraine side should follow this example" in marking the fall of Nazi Germany. It wrote on Telegram: "In case of violation of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will provide an adequate and effective response.

"The Russian side once again declares its readiness for peace negotiations without preconditions, aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, and constructive interaction with international partners." This comes shortly after a propsed Easter ceasefire, which was due to last 30 hours. However, Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia broke it nearly 3,000 times.

Russia's Victory Day is celebrated on May 9 and commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

A prominent feature is large-scale military parades in Moscow's Red Square, showcasing the country's military strength, often including historical vehicles from the era.

Some critics argue that the highly militarised Victory Day celebrations have been used by the Russian government to promote a nationalist narrative and justify their actions in Ukraine.

Putin uses the day an opportunity to project an image of Russia as a powerful nation, often drawing parallels between the war against Nazi Germany and the current campaign in Ukraine.

The latest ceasefire announcement comes after Donald Trump urged Putin to "reach a deal" with Ukraine.

The US president said he was "very disappointed" in his Russian counterpart for his ongoing strikes against a backdrop of peace talks.

He said: "I want him to stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal. I want him to sign it and be done with it."