Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a ceasefire to commence at midnight on the night of May 5-6, 2023. This decision comes as a response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposed two-day ceasefire for May 8-9, coinciding with Russia's Victory Day celebrations, which commemorate the Soviet victory in World War II. Zelenskyy emphasized that the ceasefire, referred to as a 'regime of silence', is motivated by humanitarian concerns and aims to protect civilian lives. He indicated that Ukraine's response would be 'symmetrical' to Russia's actions, leaving the ceasefire's duration open-ended. Despite the overlapping ceasefire timelines, there is no formal agreement between Ukraine and Russia, and previous truces have often been marred by accusations of violations. The announcements come amid increased military activity, with both sides conducting strikes, including Ukrainian drone attacks within Russia and ongoing missile assaults on Ukrainian cities.