Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a unilateral three-day ceasefire in Ukraine next month, a move met with skepticism by Ukrainian officials who demanded the Kremlin leader immediately accept a longer truce proposal from the United States that he has so far rejected.

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,