President Donald Trump announced Friday that both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire running from Saturday through Monday, calling it potentially the "beginning of the end" of a war that has ground on since February 2022.
"I asked and, President Putin agreed. President Zelenskyy agreed -- both readily," Trump said as he departed the White House Friday evening. "And we have a little period of time where they're not going to be killing people. That's very good."
Trump posted the announcement on social media earlier in the day, writing: "I am pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE (May 9th, 10th, and 11th) in the War between Russia and Ukraine." He noted that Saturday is Victory Day in Russia, the holiday commemorating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, and said Ukraine's own role in World War II made the timing fitting for both nations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the agreement and issued a formal presidential decree authorizing Russia to hold its traditional Red Square military parade, declaring the site off-limits for Ukrainian strikes during the event. The framing appeared deliberate. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine's decision to engage was shaped significantly by the prospect of bringing home prisoners of war, a central Kyiv demand throughout the conflict. "Red Square matters less to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners of war who can be brought home," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, also confirmed Russia's agreement to the ceasefire. The deal calls for each country to exchange 1,000 prisoners and includes a suspension of all kinetic military activity for the three-day period.
The agreement followed a string of collapsed ceasefire attempts in recent days. Russia had announced its own ceasefire for Friday and Saturday, but it unraveled quickly, with both sides blaming the other for continued fighting. A Ukrainian unilateral ceasefire earlier in the week also broke down almost immediately.
Trump said he made his request for the halt directly to both presidents. He added that talks over ending the war are ongoing and that the sides are "getting closer and closer every day," though he has at other times expressed doubt that a final settlement is near, suggesting Russia and Ukraine might be left to fight to a conclusion on their own.
