[Speaking to the Russian press on May 9]( http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/79718](http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/79718) Russian President Vladimir Putin underlined the importance of his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump in preventing the provocations threatened by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Victory Day. “The issue of May 9 celebrations was raised during my latest telephone conversation with U.S. President Trump. Incidentally, I think he spoke very well about that. He recalled our alliance in the fight against Nazism,” Putin said.
“I told him about my plans to declare a ceasefire on May 8 and 9. Why May 8? Because victory is celebrated in Europe on May 8, and Ukraine has accepted this too, and I think that they now celebrate Victory Day on May 8.