US President Donald Trump has announced a temporary three-day ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia, set to begin on Saturday, in what he described as a possible opening toward ending the prolonged war between both countries.
According to Trump, the ceasefire expected to run through May 9 to May 11 was agreed upon following direct diplomatic engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He also stated that the arrangement includes a proposed exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side.
Trump said the initiative was aimed at creating momentum toward a broader and lasting peace deal, noting that he hopes the brief halt in fighting could mark the beginning of efforts to end what has become one of the most devastating conflicts in recent years.
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Despite the announcement, fighting reportedly continued in several areas ahead of the ceasefire window. Both sides had earlier accused each other of escalating attacks, with Ukraine dismissing Russia’s earlier unilateral ceasefire declaration as symbolic and politically motivated due to its timing around Russia’s Victory Day commemorations.
Russia and Ukraine have both exchanged drone and missile strikes in recent days, with reports of casualties and infrastructure damage continuing across multiple regions.
Ukrainian officials maintained that Russian forces had not reduced military activity despite ceasefire claims, while Moscow insisted it was responding to Ukrainian strikes.
The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, has resulted in heavy casualties and widespread destruction, with repeated international efforts to broker peace yielding limited success.
Trump expressed optimism that the latest arrangement could help pave the way for more sustained negotiations toward ending the war.
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