Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a unilateral three-day ceasefire in Ukraine next month, a move met with skepticism by Ukrainian officials who demanded the Kremlin leader immediately accept a longer truce proposal from the United States that he has so far rejected.

Vladimir Putin calls a three-day ceasefire in May, coinciding with events marking the 80th anniversary of World War Two's end.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a three-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine next month to celebrate the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.