For the second time, Vladimir Putin has proposed a ceasefire - this time for three days, in honour of Russia's Victory Day celebrations. Why does the Kremlin want to do this, what is Putin afraid of,

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Monday a three-day cease-fire in its war with Ukraine is set to take place in May, but Ukrainian officials question its timing and validity.

In a statement after Putin made the announcement, the Ukrainian military says their operation "in certain areas in the Kursk region continues." The statement by Ukraine says the s

Russia's ejection of Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region ends the biggest incursion into Russian territory since World War Two but it also removes another barrier to a peace deal Moscow was reluctant to conclude with so many enemy troops on its soil.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that his country has regained control of Kursk, the border region where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive last year, though Ukraine’s army says fighting continues.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Ukraine had not responded to many offers by Russia President Vladimir Putin to start direct peace negotiations, and that it was unclear whether it would join a three-day ceasefire he has announced for next month.

Russia said on Monday it was waiting for a signal from Ukraine to say it was willing to hold direct negotiations to end their war, but had not seen any signs of movement. The Kremlin said last Friday that the possibility of direct talks had been raised during a three-hour meeting between President Vladimir Putin and U.

The Trump administration has been trying to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia to halt the three-year conflict.