In a significant diplomatic development, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire and a reciprocal prisoner exchange. This arrangement comes after an unexpected diplomatic intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump. Announced initially by Trump on the social media platform Truth Social, the ceasefire aims to halt hostilities from May 9 to May 11, aligning with Russia’s Victory Day festivities. As part of the agreement, both nations will exchange 1,000 prisoners each.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky communicated the advancement through a post on X, emphasizing the humanitarian priority of rescuing captured soldiers over launching military strikes during Russia’s annual Victory Day parade. “Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who can be brought home,” Zelensky stated, acknowledging the U.S.-mediated negotiations for achieving the ceasefire agreement and extending gratitude to Trump and his team for their diplomatic efforts.
In Russia, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed the country’s commitment to the ceasefire, as reported through official channels. Zelensky has directed his administration to swiftly organize the logistics for the prisoner exchange and has urged the United States to oversee that Russia upholds its obligations under the agreement.
The ceasefire agreement concludes a complex week marked by competing truce proposals from the two nations. Russia had independently declared a ceasefire from May 8 to May 10, in line with its Victory Day celebrations, while Ukraine countered with its own proposal for a ceasefire from May 5 to May 6. Accusations of ceasefire violations flew from both sides, with the Russian Defense Ministry issuing a warning of a potential major strike on Kyiv’s center if Ukrainian forces disrupted the Victory Day events.
