KYIV: US President Donald Trump has announced a three-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia starting Saturday, aiming for a lasting peace to end the ongoing conflict.
Previously, Russia had declared a two-day ceasefire to honor its World War II Victory Day on May 9. Ukraine has indicated that it had offered a truce as well, but Moscow did not respond.
In his announcement, Trump mentioned that the ceasefire would also include a reciprocal exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side. He has faced challenges in finding a resolution to the four-year conflict, which he had hoped to address swiftly upon taking office last year.
“I am happy to share that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE (May 9th, 10th, and 11th) in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “This request was made directly by me, and I am grateful for the agreement from President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Let’s hope this marks the start of resolving a long and tough war.”
Escalation Continues
Before the announcement, fighting resumed between the two nations. Ukraine had not agreed to Russia’s call for a temporary halt, criticizing Putin for wanting just a pause to facilitate Saturday’s military parade in Moscow.
Ukraine suggested a short-term ceasefire earlier in the week, portraying it as a test of Moscow’s commitment to a temporary truce. Russia had warned of significant attacks in Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted the Victory Day celebrations and urged diplomats to leave the city beforehand.
In Kyiv, some residents seemed unfazed by the threats. “Nothing new will happen,” said Vasyl Kobzar, a 40-year-old bank employee. “I’m worried, but it’s become routine, unfortunately.” Local officials reported no new security measures in light of the situation.
Ukraine’s air force noted that Russia had launched 67 drone attacks overnight—the lowest in almost a month. President Zelenskyy stated that despite the declared ceasefire, Russia had not reduced its offensive operations, and Ukraine responded accordingly.
Russia claimed to have intercepted over 400 Ukrainian drones since midnight, with some targeting Moscow, asserting that its military would respond in kind. A Ukrainian drone reportedly killed a man and his teenage daughter in a Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region.
In response, Zelenskyy praised a Ukrainian strike on an oil depot near Yaroslavl, approximately 200 kilometers northeast of Moscow. Following a Ukrainian drone attack that hit an air navigation center in Rostov-on-Don, several airports in southern Russia were closed, although some flights were later resumed.
Putin held a security council meeting in response to the strike, calling it a “terrorist act” that threatened civil aviation.
Ceasefire Skepticism
Ukraine dismissed the Russian ceasefire as a propaganda tactic meant to safeguard the Victory Day parade, a significant patriotic event for Putin. Before Russia’s truce began, Zelenskyy cautioned Moscow’s allies against attending the parade.
Since Putin launched the invasion in February 2022, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and many civilians have died, making this one of the most devastating conflicts in Europe since World War II. The memory of the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany has been a cornerstone of Putin’s administration for 25 years, and he has consistently used it to justify the invasion of Ukraine. However, for the first time in nearly two decades, military vehicles will be absent from the parade, and there will be few foreign guests.
Efforts to discuss an end to the conflict remain stalled, overshadowed by other global issues.
