Trump Brokers 3-Day Ceasefire + 1,000 Prisoner Swap Between Russia And Ukraine

President Donald Trump announced Friday a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine that began today, May 9, and will run through May 11, coinciding with Russia’s Victory Day commemorations.

The ceasefire agreement also includes a major prisoner exchange, with both sides agreeing to swap 1,000 prisoners each. President Trump highlighted this element in his Truth Social announcement, noting it as part of the temporary truce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv had received Russia’s agreement to conduct the prisoner exchange in a “1,000 for 1,000” format.

“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 wrote on Truth Social. 

The White House reposted the announcement on X:

The Dallas Express has extensively covered the Trump administration’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that began in 2022, including direct talks between President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have confirmed the temporary truce, reported Politico. The ceasefire is intended to create a window for further negotiations, though details on enforcement mechanisms and monitoring have not been fully released.

White House officials described the three-day pause as a confidence-building measure, per The Hill. As of Friday evening, no major violations had been widely reported, though monitoring by both sides continues.

The timing aligns with Russia’s annual Victory Day parade.

Victory Day, observed annually on May 9, commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War. The holiday marks the formal surrender of Nazi forces on May 8, 1945 (May 9 Moscow time) and remains one of Russia’s most important national holidays, featuring military parades and widespread commemorations.

This marks the latest in a series of short-term ceasefires attempted in the conflict. Previous pauses have often proven fragile, with both sides reporting violations shortly afterward.

President Trump has made ending the Russia-Ukraine war a top foreign policy priority since taking office. He has held multiple direct conversations with Putin and Zelenskyy in the last year.

Additional diplomatic talks are expected in the coming days as both sides assess the ceasefire’s effectiveness and explore possibilities for a longer-term agreement.