The leaders of Russia and Ukraine have granted President Donald Trump's request for a three-day truce and prisoner exchange, he said on Friday. He added that this may be the "beginning of the end" of their protracted conflict.
The agreement was verified by Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy."President Putin agreed when I asked. As he left the White House to attend a dinner at his golf club in Virginia, Trump remarked, "President Zelenskyy agreed—both readily." Additionally, they won't be killing anyone for a short while. That's excellent.

Trump had said on social media earlier Friday that the ceasefire would last from Saturday until Monday. In Russia, Saturday marks Victory Day, a celebration honouring the country's victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
"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 said. "The Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but, likewise, in Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II."
According to the Republican president, the truce calls for each nation to exchange 1,000 prisoners and suspend all kinetic activities.As had happened with Ukraine's own unilateral ceasefire earlier in the week, Russia's announcement of a ceasefire for Friday and Saturday immediately fell apart, with both sides accusing each other of being responsible for the ongoing combat.
According to Trump, he asked the two presidents "directly" for a ceasefire. "Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War," he stated.
Talks to terminate the war, which started in February 2022, are still ongoing, according to Trump, "and we are getting closer and closer every day."Regarding whether the war will finish, Trump has fluctuated, at times expressing optimism and at other times arguing that Russia and Ukraine should be allowed to fight it to the very end.
Zelenskyy claimed that the possibility of releasing its prisoners influenced Ukraine's choice on how to participate in those talks. Throughout the conflict, Ukraine has made the return of prisoners of war a top priority.Zelenskyy remarked on Telegram, "The lives of Ukrainian prisoners of war who can be brought home are more important to us than Red Square." Russia celebrates Victory Day, one of the greatest celebrations of the year, with a customary military parade in Red Square.

Zelenskyy's order was later dismissed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as a "silly joke."We can be proud of our Victory Day without anyone's approval," Peskov told reporters.
Zelenskyy praised Trump and the American team for what he described as successful diplomatic engagement and stated that the ceasefire agreement was established through a U.S.-mediated procedure. According to him, Ukraine anticipated that Washington would enforce the provisions of the deal against Russia."We are counting on the United States to ensure that Russia fulfils its commitments," Zelenskyy stated.
Zelenskyy stated that he had given his crew instructions to get ready for the exchange as soon as possible.Trump's statement was made just hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed a significantly more pessimistic view of talks to end Russia's four-year conflict in Ukraine, claiming that American attempts at mediation have not yet produced a "fruitful outcome"At the conclusion of a trip to Rome and the Vatican, Rubio told reporters, "While we're prepared to play whatever role we can to bring it to a peaceful diplomatic resolution, unfortunately right now those efforts have stagnated." "But we always stand ready if those circumstances change."