US President Donald Trump has announced a temporary three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, saying he hopes the development could become the first major step toward ending the prolonged conflict between both countries.
Trump disclosed that the truce would begin on May 9 and continue through May 11, adding that both nations had also agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each during the period.
The US president made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, describing the agreement as a potentially important breakthrough in efforts to stop the war that has lasted for more than four years.
“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,” Trump wrote.
“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” he added.
“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War.”
The ceasefire announcement follows days of rising tension between Moscow and Kyiv despite previous attempts at securing a temporary halt in fighting.
Russia had earlier announced a unilateral truce linked to its annual Victory Day celebrations commemorating the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War II. However, Ukraine accused Moscow of ignoring its own proposal for a broader ceasefire earlier in the week.
Before Trump’s announcement, fighting continued across several regions as both sides launched attacks overnight.
Ukrainian officials criticised Russia’s proposed truce, arguing that the Kremlin was mainly interested in protecting its military parade in Moscow’s Red Square scheduled for May 9.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier questioned Russia’s intentions, saying the situation would reveal whether Moscow was genuinely interested in reducing hostilities.
Russia, on the other hand, warned Ukraine against disrupting the Victory Day parade and reportedly advised foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv ahead of the event.
Despite the threats, many residents in the Ukrainian capital appeared unfazed.
“Nothing new will happen,” a Kyiv resident, Vasyl Kobzar, told AFP. “I’m worried, but it’s become routine, unfortunately.”
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 67 drones overnight, marking the lowest number recorded in nearly a month, though Ukrainian authorities insisted attacks had not stopped completely.
“Despite the declared ceasefire, the enemy has not reduced the intensity of assault operations,” Zelensky said, noting that Ukrainian forces were responding accordingly.
Russia claimed it intercepted more than 400 Ukrainian drones, including around 100 targeting Moscow.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone strike reportedly killed a man and his teenage daughter in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Kherson region.
Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces also claimed responsibility for a strike on an oil depot in Russia’s Yaroslavl region, northeast of Moscow.
The conflict, which began after Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has resulted in massive casualties on both sides and remains Europe’s deadliest war since World War II.
