U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, May 9th, that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a temporary three-day ceasefire from May 9 to May 11, marking the first coordinated pause in fighting between the two sides in months amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
According to Trump, the agreement includes a suspension of “all kinetic activity” and a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Kremlin both confirmed the arrangement, although Moscow stressed that the truce would remain strictly time-limited.
The ceasefire coincides with Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Analysts say the Kremlin was eager to avoid potential Ukrainian drone strikes during the Moscow parade, particularly after repeated attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent weeks.
Zelensky said Ukraine viewed the pause primarily as an opportunity to secure the return of prisoners rather than as a political gesture linked to Russia’s commemorations. He also issued a decree temporarily excluding Moscow’s Red Square area from Ukrainian targeting plans during the parade period.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, both sides remained cautious about the prospects for a broader peace deal.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that a comprehensive settlement remained “a very long way off,” while previous short-term ceasefires earlier this year quickly collapsed amid mutual accusations of violations.
