Trump says Russia and Ukraine to observe three-day ceasefire

Trump’s announcement stated the three-day ceasefire would run from May 9 through May 11, 2026, with a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that U.S. mediation efforts have not yet yielded a fruitful outcome, though the United States remains prepared to facilitate a peaceful diplomatic resolution if circumstances change.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine expected Washington to hold Russia to the terms of the agreement and instructed his team to prepare everything necessary for the prisoner exchange without delay.

Zelenskyy issued a formal presidential decree authorising Russia to hold its Victory Day parade and declared Red Square off-limits for Ukrainian strikes for the duration of the event, tying Ukrainian restraint to the ceasefire terms.

Trump posted on social media that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a three-day ceasefire from May 9 through May 11, and a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the agreement and said Ukraine was preparing for the exchange; Zelenskyy also highlighted the prisoners' return. He noted Red Square mattered less than freeing Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told journalists that Russia accepted the U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia announced a ceasefire for Friday, May 8, 2026 and Saturday, May 9, 2026, but it quickly unravelled as both sides blamed each other for continued fighting.

Authorities say radiation in the area of the fire remains within the normal range.

Firefighters say the wildfire is spreading rapidly, already covering some 11 square kilometers.

Separately Ukrainian emergency personnel were battling a huge wildfire in the exclusion zone at Chornobyl. Strong winds, dry weather and landmines from the ongoing conflict are complicating efforts to control the blaze, which is spreading rapidly.

Zelensky said he expected US envoys to come to Kyiv in the next few weeks.

Speaking on a visit to Italy on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was still prepared to mediate but did not want to waste time if progress was not being made.

The US has mediated several rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine but so far without any breakthrough, and there are concerns that Washington is now distracted by the war in the Middle East.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready for dialogue but will not initiate such contacts themselves.

The celebrations used to bring large numbers of foreign guests to Moscow, but this time only the leaders of Belarus, Malaysia and Laos, and a few other dignitaries, will attend.

Residents of Moscow and St Petersburg have been warned their mobile internet access will be limited for security reasons.

For the first time in nearly two decades there will be no military hardware at the parade, while Moscow is on high alert over fears that Ukraine could disrupt the events.

Russia warned foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital ahead of 9 May.

Russia warned Ukraine not to attack the Victory Day parade in Red Square and threatened to launch a retaliatory, massive missile strike on Kyiv if Moscow is attacked.

Zelensky posted on Telegram that there had been more than 140 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the first few hours of the truce, and more than 850 drone strikes, saying Ukraine would act in kind.

Thirteen airports in southern Russia suspended operations after a drone attack.

Ukrainian strikes were reported on industrial sites in the Perm and Yaroslavl regions, as well as sites in the Rostov region and the Chechen capital Grozny.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said some 20 drones had been downed near the city in just the first two hours of the ceasefire.

Earlier both sides said the other had continued to attack their positions, accusing each other of battlefield ceasefire violations.

Russian state media said Russia had agreed to the proposal.

Shortly afterwards Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukraine's participation in the proposed ceasefire.

Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, including a suspension of all kinetic activity and a prisoner swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country.

Putin had announced a ceasefire for 8-9 May ahead of Victory Day celebrations on Saturday.

European Council President Antonio Costa said there is potential for the EU to negotiate with Russia over ending the war, with Zelensky's backing to do so. He described ongoing discussions with the EU's 27 national leaders to identify what to discuss with Russia when the right moment comes, and noted that geography cannot be changed, highlighting the future security architecture of Europe.

Kyiv had earlier called for an indefinite truce, starting 6 May.