U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine timed to Victory Day. According to him, the cessation of hostilities will last from May 9 to May 11.
Trump said the proposal includes a full suspension of combat operations. In addition, Moscow and Kyiv are to carry out a large-scale prisoner exchange under a 1,000-for-1,000 formula.
According to the U.S. president, the initiative came from him, and it was supported by Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I hope this is the beginning of the end of a very long, bloody and difficult war. Negotiations to end this major conflict, the largest since World War II, are continuing, and we are moving closer to the goal every day,” the U.S. president wrote.
Ukraine's response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv is ready to observe the ceasefire on May 9, 10 and 11. He also confirmed that the sides would hand over 1,000 prisoners of war each. At the same time, Zelensky said Ukraine would adhere to the principle of reciprocity regarding strikes.
“The principle of reciprocity in our actions is well known and has been demonstrated to the Russian side. An additional argument for Ukraine in defining our position is always the resolution of one of the key humanitarian issues of this war, namely the release of prisoners of war. Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who can be brought home,” the Ukrainian president wrote.
Zelensky thanked Trump and his team for their diplomatic involvement and expressed hope that Washington would persuade Moscow to observe the ceasefire. A decree also appeared on the website of the Ukrainian president “authorizing” the Victory Day parade on Red Square in Moscow.
Russia's response
Yury Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, said the Kremlin also supports Trump’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire and a prisoner exchange.
“On instructions from Vladimir Putin, I confirm the acceptability for the Russian side of the initiative just proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump concerning a ceasefire for the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine,” the Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.