Ukrainian army officers lay flowers at a monument to pilots to mark Victory Day in World War II, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 8, 2026. EFREM LUKATSKY / AP
US President Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia starting Saturday, May 9, saying he hoped it could lead to long term deal to end Moscow's war. Russia had previously announced a two-day unilateral ceasefire to mark its May 9 World War II Victory Day on Saturday. Ukraine previously stated that it too had offered a truce but that this had been ignored by Moscow.
The truce would also include a mutual swap of 1,000 prisoners each, said Trump, who has struggled to end the four-year conflict he once pledged to solve within a day of taking office last year.
"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 on his Truth Social network. "This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy," said the US president. "Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War."
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