Ukraine, Russia confirm three-day ceasefire, Trump says it
could be extended
MOSCOW/WASHINGTON - Russia and Ukraine confirmed
on May 8 that they have agreed to a three-day ceasefire
brokered by the United States, which will run from May 9 to May
11, and President Donald Trump said he hopes it will be extended.
Trump's announcement of the temporary ceasefire on Truth
Social earlier in the day also said that each country involved
in the more than four-year conflict would exchange 1,000
prisoners of war.
"I would like to see a major extension of that. It could happen,"
Trump told reporters on Friday evening.
Both Kiev and Moscow have accused each other of violating
the ceasefire, which was announced separately this week,
as Russia prepares to hold a May 9 Victory Day parade,
which commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi
Germany in 1945.
Trump has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of
progress in ending the Ukraine-Russia war, and the ceasefire
brings some good news for the US president, whose war with
Israel against Iran has dented his popularity at home.
Efforts to end the Iran war, now in its third month, appeared to
have stalled as renewed fighting in the Gulf region escalated.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the Ukraine-Russia
ceasefire would see a halt to all "military activity" and an
exchange of 1,000 prisoners from both countries.
"This request was made directly by me, and I am very grateful
that President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky
have agreed to it. Hopefully, this is the beginning of the end of
a long, deadly and difficult war," he said.
Trump added that talks to end the war were moving forward
"and we are getting closer every day".
Zelensky, writing in Telegram, confirmed that the ceasefire was
arranged as part of the US negotiation efforts and that
humanitarian issues remain a top priority.
"That is why today, within the framework of the negotiation
process mediated by the US side, we have received Russia's
consent to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war for 1,000," Zelensky wrote.
Zelensky also issued a humorous decree "allowing" Russia's
May 9 military parade to go ahead and stating that Ukrainian
weapons would not target Red Square.
Russia has warned that any attempt by Ukraine to disrupt the
Red Square parade would result in a massive missile strike on Kiev.
According to Zelensky, the ceasefire followed substantive talks
between US and Ukrainian officials in Miami, and US envoys
are scheduled to visit Kiev in the coming months.
Speaking to reporters on Putin's behalf, Kremlin aide
Yuri Ushakov said Russia had also agreed to Trump's initiative.
"An agreement on this was reached during our telephone talks
with the US administration," he said.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defense systems had
intercepted Ukrainian drones approaching the capital for a seven-
hour period ending at 8 p.m. local time (1700 GMT).
Moscow has issued such a statement since Trump announced
the ceasefire.
Russia and Ukraine have previously accused each other of
violating the ceasefire, which was declared separately.
EmoticonEmoticon