Temporary truce scheduled around Russia’s Victory Day celebrations as Moscow and Kyiv prepare to swap 1,000 prisoners each amid ongoing peace negotiations
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that Russia and Ukraine will observe a three-day ceasefire accompanied by a large-scale prisoner exchange.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the ceasefire would take place on May 9, May 10, and May 11, coinciding with Russia’s Victory Day holiday on May 9.
“This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country,” Trump wrote. “This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by [Russian] President Vladimir Putin and [Ukrainian] President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.”
Trump added that he hopes the temporary halt in fighting marks “the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought” conflict that began in late February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Stating that negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are continuing, the president said, “We are getting closer and closer every day” to a potential peace agreement between the two countries.
Responding to Trump’s announcement, Zelenskyy said in a post on X that Ukraine had accepted the U.S. proposal for a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side.
“That is why today, a ceasefire regime must also be established on May 9, 10, and 11,” Zelenskyy wrote Friday. “Ukraine is consistently working to bring its people home from Russian captivity. I have instructed our team to promptly prepare everything necessary for the exchange.”
He added, “I thank the President of the United States and his team for their productive diplomatic involvement.”
The Russian government did not publicly respond to Trump’s announcement on Friday.
Moscow and Kyiv had previously announced separate ceasefire measures on different dates. Zelenskyy stated, “We believe that human life is far more valuable than any anniversary ‘celebration,’” in reference to Victory Day. “In this regard, we are announcing a ceasefire regime starting at 00:00 on the night of May 5-6,” he added.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said in a Telegram post that its forces would begin “an armistice from” midnight on May 8 through May 10.
“During the specified period, all groups of Russian troops in the special military operation zone will completely cease fire,” the ministry said, using Moscow’s official term for the war in Ukraine.
Last month, Trump said he had discussed the possibility of a May 9 ceasefire with Putin, telling reporters that he suggested “a little bit of a ceasefire” during a recent phone conversation with the Russian leader.
During the same call, Putin reportedly offered assistance to the United States regarding Iran’s enriched uranium issue, which Trump described at the time as a major obstacle to ending the U.S.–Iran conflict. Trump said he instead encouraged Putin to focus on ending the war in Ukraine.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in late April that Putin had proposed the temporary ceasefire to coincide with Victory Day commemorations marking the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War II.
Russia’s Defense Ministry also stated on Telegram that its forces would take all necessary measures to secure the commemorative events, warning that any attempt by Ukraine to disrupt the celebrations would result in retaliation.
