U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced what he described as a planned three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine from May 9 to May 11.

In a post published on Truth Social, Trump said the temporary ceasefire would include “a suspension of all kinetic activity” as well as an exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side.

Trump Says Putin and Zelensky Agreed

Trump said the arrangement was made following a direct request from him and thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for agreeing to the proposal.
“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky,” Trump wrote.

Neither Moscow nor Kyiv immediately issued official statements independently confirming the details of the ceasefire or the proposed prisoner exchange.

Victory Day Context

Trump linked the timing of the ceasefire to Russia’s Victory Day commemorations marking the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War II.
“The Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but, likewise, in Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II,” Trump wrote.

Victory Day, observed annually on May 9, is one of Russia’s most significant national commemorations and has carried heightened political and military symbolism during the war in Ukraine.

Talks on Broader Settlement Continue

Trump said negotiations aimed at ending the conflict were ongoing and expressed optimism about prospects for a broader settlement.

“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War,” he wrote.
“Talks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day.”

War Enters Fourth Year

The Russia-Ukraine war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has become Europe’s largest military conflict since World War II, causing tens of thousands of deaths, mass displacement and extensive destruction across Ukraine.

Previous ceasefire efforts and prisoner exchanges have taken place intermittently throughout the conflict, though many temporary truces have later collapsed amid renewed fighting.