US President Donald Trump on Friday announced that Russia and Ukraine would observe a three-day ceasefire from May 9 to May 11, raising hopes of a temporary pause in the ongoing conflict.
The announcement followed Trump's phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 29. Trump said efforts were underway to secure a short-term truce between the two countries, per a report by Hindustan Times.
Last year, Putin had announced a similar three-day ceasefire, though that move was not coordinated with Kyiv. Earlier this week, Russia had also declared a unilateral two-day pause in fighting to coincide with the country's May 9 Victory Day celebrations linked to World War II.
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Ceasefire to include prisoner exchange
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the ceasefire covering Saturday, Sunday and Monday could become "the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War".
He added that the agreement would include a halt to combat operations and a major prisoner exchange between both sides.
"This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country. This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy," he wrote.
Trump also noted that talks aimed at ending the conflict were continuing and said negotiators were "getting closer and closer every day".
Peace talks remain stalled
Despite the ceasefire announcement, negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv remain deadlocked over eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.
Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, reportedly travelled to Miami for talks with US officials as diplomatic efforts continued. Russia wants Ukraine to withdraw troops from parts of Donetsk still under Kyiv's control, while Ukraine has rejected any proposal involving territorial concessions.
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Fighting continues ahead of truce
Hours before Trump's announcement, Russia and Ukraine exchanged fresh attacks.
Ukraine had earlier accused Putin of seeking a pause only to ensure security for the Victory Day military parade at Red Square. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier proposed a temporary halt in fighting, describing it as a test of whether Moscow was genuinely willing to pause the war, now in its fourth year.
