Russia and Ukraine have confirmed that they reached an agreement on a three-day ceasefire brokered by the United States. The ceasefire is scheduled to take place from May 9 to May 11, with hopes for a possible extension, as stated by U.S. President Donald Trump. The agreement also includes a prisoner exchange of 1,000 individuals from each side.
Both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of violating previous ceasefires declared earlier in the week. Russia is preparing for a Victory Day parade on May 9, commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
President Trump expressed his frustration over the lack of progress in resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The temporary ceasefire brings some positive news for Trump, whose ongoing conflict with Iran has impacted his domestic approval ratings.
According to Trump, the ceasefire will involve a suspension of all “kinetic activity” and the exchange of prisoners. The announcement was made on Truth Social, where Trump thanked Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy for agreeing to the ceasefire and expressed hope for an eventual end to the long-standing conflict.
President Zelenskyy confirmed the ceasefire on Telegram, emphasizing the importance of humanitarian issues. He mentioned that the agreement was part of U.S. mediation efforts and highlighted the prisoner exchange as a significant step.
The news of the ceasefire followed substantial talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Miami. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Russia had agreed to Trump’s initiative, which was reached during telephone discussions with the U.S. administration.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine’s borders in February 2022. Despite Trump’s promises to swiftly end the war, the situation remains unresolved. Peace talks have stalled, with no clear resolution in sight as both sides continue to engage in military actions.
Putin had declared a two-day ceasefire for the Victory Day commemorations, which Kyiv deemed inadequate, calling instead for an indefinite truce. Russia’s warning of a potential missile strike on Kyiv if the Red Square parade is disrupted highlights the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
This year’s Victory Day parade in Moscow will not display any military equipment, possibly due to concerns about Ukrainian drones and long-range missiles. Experts suggest that Russia’s caution reflects its fear of potential interference from Ukraine during the parade.