Trump announces three-day ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine war

Truce will also include swap of 1,000 prisoners of war from each country, US president says.⁠United States ⁠President Donald Trump ⁠says ‌there will be a three-day ceasefire in ⁠the war between ⁠Russia and ⁠Ukraine.Posting on Truth Social on Friday, the US leader said the truce would last from ⁠Saturday to Monday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Amid Ukraine’s daring assaults, Russia scales back Victory Day celebrationslist 2 of 3Russia, Ukraine trade fire, blame despite Victory Day ceasefirelist 3 of 3Ukraine may have turned tide of Russian territorial gains, says think tankend of list“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 posted.Soon after, Ukrainian ⁠President ⁠Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Kremlin both confirmed ⁠a three-day truce ⁠had been arranged as part of ‌US efforts to negotiate an end to the more than ⁠four-year-old 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.“This request was made directly by me,” Trump said on Friday, thanking his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts for agreeing to it.“The Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but, likewise, in Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II. This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country,” Trump said.“Talks are continuing” on ending the war, he added, saying that “we are getting closer and closer every day”.“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War.”War of attritionTrump made ending the war in Ukraine a central pillar of his 2024 presidential campaign, even boasting that he could end the conflict within 24 hours of returning to office.