Trump says 3-day ceasefire, prisoner swap to occur between Russia and Ukraine
President Donald Trump announced Friday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a brief three-day ceasefire and a prisoner swap this weekend following talks mediated by the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had been calling for the short pause in attacks to take place over his country’s “Victory Day” holiday on May 9, which celebrates the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II and when he presides over a huge annual military parade on Red Square.
Trump hailed the ceasefire as perhaps the “beginning of the end” to the war, but there was little expectation that Putin would extend the ceasefire past Monday. Throughout the war Putin has called short ceasefires during holidays, lasting only a few hours and which Russian troops have largely ignored, rendering them essentially meaningless.
"This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country. This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy," Trump wrote in a social media post.
In a statement on social media, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy confirmed that they had received a prisoner swap offer from Russia and said it must be accompanied by a ceasefire. The Kremlin also confirmed it would now observe the ceasefire, saying it had first been agreed to by Putin and Trump during a recent phone call.
Putin had unilaterally called the three-day pause last week, but Ukraine had been reluctant to sign on, believing that Putin hoped to use it as cover for the May 9 parade, which the Kremlin fears was vulnerable to Ukrainian attack. The parade, which usually sees hundreds of tanks and other military equipment roll past the Kremlin walls, is a centerpiece of Putin’s rule and Ukrainian strikes around it would be embarrassing.
For the first time in nearly two decades the Kremlin has said military vehicles will not take part in the parade because of concerns of Ukrainian attacks.
Zelenskyy -- who has called for a long-term ceasefire -- had refused to accept Putin’s pause in recent days, hinting that Ukraine might strike the parade. But following a request from Trump, he said he has now agreed to it in exchange for the prisoner swap.
In a post on social media, Zelenskyy suggested returning the prisoners was more important than attacking the parade.
“Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who can be brought home,” he wrote.
"That is why today, within the framework of the negotiating process mediated by the American side, we received Russia’s agreement to conduct a prisoner exchange in the format of 1,000 for 1,000. A ceasefire regime must also be established on May 9, 10, and 11," Zelenskyy wrote, thanking Trump for his involvement.
"We expect the United States to ensure that the Russian side fulfills these agreements," Zelenskyy added.
In April, Trump noted that, following a call with Putin, he raised the idea of a ceasefire for Victory Day.
"I suggested a little bit of a ceasefire. And I think he might do that. He might announce something having to do with it," Trump said at the time.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Friday that "the agreement on this matter was reached during our telephone contacts with the administration of the U.S. president."
