France, May 7 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's order for a three-day truce with Ukraine took effect Thursday, a move the Kremlin said would test Kyiv's readiness for peace but that Ukraine has slammed as a farce.

It was not clear whether either side was observing the ceasefire, even with world leaders- including China's Xi Jinping, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Serbia's Aleksandar Vucic- in Moscow for commemorations of the end of World War II.

It appeared relatively quiet overnight, though Ukraine's military said early Thursday that Russian forces had launched air strikes in the eastern Sumy region. Kyiv did not report any damage or casualties.

Putin unilaterally ordered the temporary truce to coincide with Moscow's Victo...