Russia and Ukraine on Friday confirmed that they had agreed to a three-day ceasefire brokered through mediation efforts led by Donald Trump, marking a rare diplomatic breakthrough after more than four years of war between the two countries.
The temporary truce is scheduled to remain in effect from May 9 to May 11 and coincides with Russia’s Victory Day commemorations, one of the most important symbolic and political events in the country. Alongside the ceasefire, both sides also confirmed a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 1,000 prisoners from each country, making it one of the biggest exchanges since the war began.
Trump announced the agreement in a post on Truth Social, saying the ceasefire would include a complete suspension of “all kinetic activity” during the three days. He said the understanding had been reached directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy,” Trump wrote. He described the development as a possible turning point in the prolonged conflict and added, “Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard-fought war.”
Trump later indicated that he hoped the ceasefire would eventually be extended beyond the initial three-day window if negotiations continued progressing positively. According to him, diplomatic talks aimed at reaching a broader settlement were continuing, and discussions were moving forward daily.
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy also confirmed the agreement in a statement posted on Telegram, saying the arrangement had emerged through negotiations mediated by the American side. He stressed that humanitarian concerns, especially prisoner exchanges, remained among Kyiv’s top priorities during the ongoing conflict.
“That is why today, within the framework of the negotiation process mediated by the American side, we received Russia's agreement to conduct a prisoner of war exchange in the format of 1,000 for 1,000,” Zelenskiy said.
In a symbolic and somewhat sarcastic gesture tied to Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, Zelenskiy also issued what observers described as a tongue-in-cheek decree “allowing” Russia’s May 9 military parade to proceed without Ukrainian attacks on Moscow’s Red Square during the commemorative events.
On the Russian side, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed Moscow’s participation in the ceasefire initiative and stated that the agreement had been reached during discussions between Russian officials and representatives of the US administration.
The ceasefire announcement came despite continued hostilities and accusations from both sides over previous attempts at limited truces earlier this week. Putin had earlier declared a two-day unilateral ceasefire linked to Victory Day commemorations marking the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. However, Kyiv had rejected that earlier proposal as insufficient and instead pushed for a broader and indefinite ceasefire beginning sooner, which Moscow declined at the time.
Even after the latest diplomatic breakthrough, fighting reportedly continued overnight in several areas. Russian officials claimed their air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 264 Ukrainian drones, while reports emerged of attacks targeting Moscow and Russia’s Perm region.
Ukraine, meanwhile, stated that it had carried out strikes on a Russian oil refinery in Perm for the second consecutive day and had also targeted another oil facility in Yaroslavl. Zelenskiy further alleged that Russian forces continued attacking Ukrainian positions overnight despite ongoing negotiations and preparations for the truce.
Russia has also issued stern warnings ahead of the Victory Day celebrations. Moscow reportedly warned that any Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the parade or strike central Moscow would provoke a large-scale missile response against Kyiv. Russian authorities are also said to have advised diplomats to temporarily leave the Ukrainian capital in case tensions escalate.
Victory Day remains the most significant national holiday in Russia and commemorates the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 after enormous wartime losses estimated at around 27 million Soviet citizens during World War II.
Traditionally, the Moscow parade features large military displays including tanks, missile systems,s and advanced weaponry. However, reports indicate that this year’s event may proceed under heightened security conditions and without the usual large-scale display of military hardware because of fears of possible attacks.
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began with Russia’s invasion in 2022, has now extended beyond four years and caused widespread destruction, economic disruption, and massive casualties on both sides. Russia currently controls close to one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, although military analysts have suggested that Russian territorial advances have slowed significantly in recent months compared to earlier phases of the conflict.
