In a notable diplomatic advancement, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire and a mutual prisoner exchange, following an unexpected intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump. The ceasefire is set to take place from May 9 to May 11, aligning with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations. Each nation will exchange 1,000 prisoners as part of the deal, which Trump initially announced on Truth Social.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X to confirm the agreement, emphasizing the importance of rescuing captured soldiers over engaging in military actions against Moscow during the Victory Day parade. He expressed gratitude towards President Trump and his team for their role in facilitating the agreement, stating that the humanitarian need to bring Ukrainian prisoners home outweighed the significance of Red Square.
In Moscow, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed Russia’s commitment to the ceasefire. Zelensky has directed his team to swiftly prepare for the prisoner exchange and has called on the United States to ensure that Russia adheres to its commitments under the agreement.
The ceasefire deal concludes a week of conflicting ceasefire announcements from both nations. Russia had previously declared a unilateral ceasefire from May 8 to 10 for Victory Day, while Ukraine proposed a separate ceasefire for May 5 to 6. Accusations flew between both sides, with each claiming the other had breached their respective ceasefires. The Russian Defense Ministry had even threatened a significant strike on Kyiv should Ukrainian actions disrupt the Victory Day events.