US President Donald Trump said that the leaders of Russia and Ukraine have agreed to his request for a three-day ceasefire and an an exchange of prisoners, adding that such a halt to hostilities could be the "beginning of the end" of the long war between them.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, both confirmed the agreement.
Speaking to reporters while leaving the White House, Trump said both leaders had readily accepted his proposal. “I asked, and President Putin agreed. President Zelenskyy agreed — both readily,” he said, adding that the temporary halt would stop the killing, which he called "v ery good."
Earlier, Trump had announced on social media that the ceasefire would take place from May 9 to May 11. The period coincides with Russia's Victory Day commemorations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. "I am pleased to announce that there will be a three-day ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine," Ther White House wrote on X (formerly Twitter) quoting Trump.
According to Trump, the agreement includes a suspension of all kinetic military activity and an exchange of 1,000 prisoners by each side. However, previous attempts at halting hostilities have failed to hold. A Russian-declared ceasefire earlier in the week quickly collapsed, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of violations.
Trump said he made the ceasefire request directly to both presidents, expressing hope it could mark a turning point in the conflict that began in February 2022. “Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard-fought war,” he said, adding that negotiations were ongoing and “getting closer every day," reported AP.
Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine's participation in the deal was partly driven by the prospect of securing the return of prisoners of war, a key priority for Kyiv. "Red Square matters less to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners of war who can be brought home," he said in a Telegram post.
In a symbolic move, Zelenskyy issued a decree declaring Moscow's Red Square off-limits for Ukrainian strikes during Victory Day events, while also emphasising Ukraine's ability to target the Russian capital. The Kremlin dismissed the move, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov calling it a “silly joke” and stating that Russia required no permission to celebrate.
Zelenskyy said the agreement was reached through US-mediated talks and thanked Trump's team for what he described as effective diplomacy. He also said Kyiv expected Washington to ensure Moscow adheres to the terms. Ukraine has begun preparations for the prisoner exchange.
ALSO READ: Russian Missiles Fly Near Chernobyl, Ukraine Warns of 'Nuclear Catastrophe' Risk: Report
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.