The Bolodymyr Zelensky confirms a three-day ceasefire with Russia and exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war under a agreement with US diplomatic support.
At a particularly critical juncture for war in Ukraine, new information from the diplomatic field points to a possible de-escalation of tensions, as announced developments include a temporary cessation of hostilities and parallel negotiations for large-scale humanitarian exchanges. The latest moves behind the scenes of the talks between Kiev and Moscow, with intermediation by international actors, create a fragile but important framework of understanding, where political and military strategy is now directly linked to issues of prisoners, public symbolism and communication balance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed today that an agreement has been reached on a three-day ceasefire with Russia (on 9, 10 and 11 May), in framework of US diplomatic efforts with the ultimate goal of terminating the war after more than four years.
The messages
In messages shared via X and Telegram, Zelensky says an agreement was reached to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each country.
Russia had already announced a unilateral ceasefire to mark the anniversary of the Soviet army’s victory over the Nazis in World War II, threatening that if Ukraine attempted to disrupt the celebrations in Moscow it would launch a “massive missile attack” on central Kiev.
In a decree signed tonight, Zelensky said he ordered “to allow a parade to be held in the city of Moscow (Russian Federation) on May 9, 2026,” noting that Red Square would be excluded from the sights of the Ukrainian armed forces.
“Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who will be able to return home,” the Ukrainian president explained earlier in a post.
Zhelensky thanked US President Donald Trump and his staff for their diplomatic initiatives, adding that he expects Washington to ensure that the Russian side will abide by what was agreed.
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