The Kremlin announces that Putin is set to make an announcement shortly.

🇷🇺⚡- Vladimir Putin held a meeting with senior officials, according to the Kremlin.

The statement will be issued in one hour.

The 3-day ceasefire in Ukraine is set to end in 1 hour 10 minutes.

Interesting timing.

Putin is reportedly meeting with the security council right now.

Ukraine and the EU have released a joint statement:

Here are the key points:

There should be a full and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days. If Russia calls for such conditions, this can only be considered as an effort to prolong the war and undermine diplomacy.

The ceasefire requires effective monitoring, which could be successfully implemented in close coordination with the United States.

The ceasefire should last for at least 30 days to create room for diplomacy. During this period, diplomatic work should focus on outlining the security, political and humanitarian foundations of peace.

The strengthening of Ukraine’s Defence and Security Forces will be the primary guarantee of Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.

A key element of security guarantees to Ukraine should also be a reassurance force.

If Russia refuses a full and unconditional ceasefire, stronger sanctions should be applied to its banking and energy sectors, targeting fossil fuels, oil and the shadow fleet.

Putin will make an announcement in roughly 20 minutes.

Putin is currently meeting with the leader of South Ossetia, and will make a live announcement in 6 minutes, at the exact time the ceasefire is set to end.

The 3-day "ceasefire" in Ukraine has officially ended

Putin will make an announcement any minute now

Western media, including BBC, NBC and CNN are present at the press conference in Moscow

Peskov has said to reporters that no questions will be asked, and that Putin will make a statement.

TASS reports that Putin's statement will sum up the last 4 working days.

Possible launches of Russian Geran-2 drones from Shatalove airbase, Smolensk Oblast.

Possible launches of Russian Geran-2 drones from Primorsk-Akhtarsk Air Base, Krasnodar Krai.

Putin's address has begun. He is giving a congratulation for Victory day.

Possible launches of Russian Geran-2 drones from Millerevo airbase, Rostov Oblast.

Putin has offered direct negotiations in Istanbul, stating that "We need to ensure long-lasting peace in the historical context".

Putin: "Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions"

The address is over.

Most of the speech was just fluff, but Putin is going to speak with Turkish President Erdogan tomorrow. He wants the talks to start on May 15.