Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has rejected a proposal from Kyiv to extend a unilateral three-day ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin in early May to a full 30 days.

Peskov confirmed that Moscow had reviewed the offer put forward by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but stated that several key issues needed to be resolved first.

“Without answers to these questions, it is difficult to enter into a long-term ceasefire,” he said, emphasising that this was Putin’s position.

In March, Putin had outlined conditions when U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a similar 30-day ceasefire.

These included restrictions on Ukraine using the pause to regroup and rearm its forces, as well as a halt to Western arms shipments to Kyiv.

Putin offered no concessions in return.

On Monday, Putin declared a unilateral ceasefire from May 8 to 11, coinciding with Russia’s annual Victory Parade on May 9, commemorating the end of World War II.

(AFP).

Canadians have ignored the President of the United States of America’s annexation call, as Mark Carney, a Liberal, has been elected as prime minister of the country, according to the projections of the national broadcaster CBC/Radio Canada.

Carney beat his opposite, Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party, to emerge the winner in one of the country’s most consequential elections in decades.

However, it’s still not clear if his Liberal party will win the 172 seats needed for an outright majority in parliament.

The full results will not be available until late Monday evening or early Tuesday morning.

The vote was widely seen as a decision about which candidate could best handle President Trump, who helped spark a wave of nationalism across Canada by threatening to annexe Canada and placing stiff tariffs on the country.

The 60-year-old Carney had a career in investment banking before becoming the governor of the Bank of England during the Brexit turmoil and the head of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 economic downturn.

Carney had never held political office before being named leader of the Liberal Party in March.

His background in finance and his seemingly unflappable demeanour helped convince voters he was the candidate that could best tackle Trump and his sometimes erratic policies.

Carney’s victory comes amid President Trump’s call for the annexation of Canada by the US.On Monday, Trump repeated his call for Canada to be the 51st US state.

Image:Police officers inspect the site of a building hit by a Russian ballistic missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine April 24, 2025. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko.

(Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a three-day ceasefire in May in the war with Ukraine to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 – when Putin will host international leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping for lavish celebrations to commemorate victory over Nazi Germany – and May 10.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, in response, said: “If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8th?”A ceasefire should be “real, not just for a parade,” he posted on X.

The White House said President Donald Trump wanted a permanent ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.