US President Donald Trump has declared a three-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, set for May 9, 10, and 11. He also confirmed a new prisoner exchange agreement, with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian officials corroborating this development.
In a social media post, Trump stated, “This request was made directly by me, and I greatly appreciate the agreement of President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky. I hope this marks the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and difficult war.” He emphasized that negotiations to resolve this significant conflict, the largest since World War II, are progressing.
Zelensky affirmed that, through American mediation, Ukraine received Russia’s consent for a prisoner exchange of 1,000 personnel on each side. He also noted the establishment of a ceasefire during the specified dates.
“The principle of reciprocity in our actions is well known and has been demonstrated to the Russian side. An additional argument for Ukraine in determining our position is always the resolution of one of the key humanitarian issues of this war, namely the release of prisoners of war. The Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian captives that can be brought home,” Zelensky stated.
Putin’s aide, Ushakov, also confirmed Russia’s agreement to the ceasefire and the prisoner exchange.
Background on Putin’s Ceasefire Proposal
On April 29, President Putin engaged in a 90-minute phone conversation with Trump, during which they discussed the Russian leader’s willingness to announce a ceasefire for May 9.
During a briefing following their discussion, Trump mentioned that he suggested a “brief cessation of hostilities” and expressed confidence that Putin could implement it. He also remarked that he believed Putin had been ready to finalize an agreement for some time, but that certain individuals had complicated the process for him.
On May 4, the Russian Ministry of Defense declared a ceasefire from May 8 to 9, warning that any violations by Kyiv would result in a massive retaliatory strike on the capital.
On the same day, Zelensky announced a ceasefire during the night of May 5-6. However, on May 6, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga reported that Russia had violated the ceasefire established by Ukraine, with Russian forces launching attacks using 108 drones and three missiles overnight.
US President Donald Trump has announced a temporary ceasefire and a significant prisoner exchange in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with both sides confirming the developments. The situation remains tense, as previous ceasefire agreements have been violated, highlighting the complexities of the ongoing negotiations.