Russia and Ukraine have confirmed the establishment of a three-day truce, brokered by the United States, coinciding with Russia’s World War II victory celebrations from May 9 to May 11. The agreement also features a significant prisoner exchange, where both nations will swap 1,000 prisoners. This development follows a series of drone strikes and declarations of unilateral ceasefires leading up to the holiday.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the truce on his Truth Social network, expressing hope that it could lead to a long-term resolution to the ongoing conflict. “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 stated. He noted his appreciation for the agreement reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, indicating that this could mark “the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War.”
Zelensky acknowledged the necessity of a ceasefire and instructed Ukrainian forces to refrain from targeting Moscow’s Red Square during the May 9 celebrations, which this year will occur without military equipment in a significant change of format. A senior source from the Ukrainian presidency indicated that the decision to spare certain targets in exchange for the prisoner swap reflected a strategic move during the truce.
In the lead-up to the ceasefire, both countries had engaged in attacks. Ukrainian air force reports indicated that Russia launched 67 drone strikes, the lowest count recorded in nearly a month. Zelensky noted that, despite the ceasefire, Ukraine was responding to ongoing threats, stating, “the enemy has not reduced the intensity of assault operations.”
In countermeasures, Russia reported downing over 400 Ukrainian drones, including attempts aimed at Moscow. Recently, violence escalated when a Ukrainian drone attack resulted in the tragic deaths of a father and daughter in Russian-occupied Kherson. Additionally, Ukrainian forces targeted refineries in Russian regions, causing disruptions in various southern Russian airports.
Putin convened a security council meeting to address these developments, criticizing the Ukrainian strikes as acts of terrorism that jeopardize civil aviation safety.
As the ceasefire approached, Zelensky dismissed Russia’s temporary halt in hostilities as a tactic intended to shield the victory parade, an essential patriotic event for Putin. He cautioned Moscow’s allies against attending the ceremony, which had seen Russia threaten severe retaliation if the parade was disrupted.
The significance of the May 9 parade, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, has been amplified by Putin, who has incorporated this historical narrative into justifications for the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. However, this year’s parade will notably feature no military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades and a limited guest list, suggesting a shift in the event’s usual grandeur.
Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, both sides have suffered extensive losses, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians believed to have been killed, marking one of Europe’s deadliest conflicts since World War II. Despite ongoing discussions, substantial progress towards a peaceful resolution remains elusive, overshadowed by the present turmoil in the region.
