Putin declares two-day Ukraine truce to mark WWII date

"Despite the ​capabilities at our disposal, Russia has previously ​refrained from ‌such actions on humanitarian grounds," it said ​in a statement, adding however that it was ready to ​act if ​the ceasefire ​was not respected.

"We are ‌warning the civilian population of Kyiv and staff at foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the ​city in a timely manner," it said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr ‌Zelenskiy had earlier on Monday dismissed the ‌idea of a ‌ceasefire for one day in the Russia-Ukraine war as "not serious," ‌adding that ⁠his government had yet to ​receive any official proposal.

The Kremlin has previously said a ⁠possible truce, ‌discussed ​by the Russian and ​US presidents, ‌would cover May ​9 - which is celebrated with a military ​parade.