Trump announces Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap as part of 3-day ceasefire

Washington — President Trump on Friday announced Russia and Ukraine will swap 1,000 prisoners as a part of a three-day ceasefire for the observation of Victory Day in Russia this weekend. 

Russia and Ukraine previously announced separate ceasefires on different days, so the timeline isn’t entirely clear. Mr. Trump said the temporary ceasefire will suspend all kinetic activity Saturday through Monday. In statements, Ukraine and Russia appeared to agree to the terms Mr. Trump announced. 

Taking to Truth Social, the U.S. president said he requested the temporary ceasefire, and appreciates Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreeing to it. 

“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War,” he said of a war that’s over four years old. “Talks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day.”

Earlier this week, Zelenskyy announced a ceasefire for May 5-6, while Russia last week suggested a ceasefire for May 8-9. 

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian head of state, said in a statement, “On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, I confirm the acceptability for the Russian side of the initiative proposed just now by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a ceasefire for the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy appeared to agree with the ceasefire proposal and prisoner swap in a translated statement posted to Telegram. The Ukrainian president said his country “received Russia’s agreement to conduct a prisoner exchange in the format of 1,000 for 1,000.”

“There should also be a ceasefire on May 9, 10, and 11. Ukraine is consistently working to return its people from Russian captivity,” Zelenskyy said. “I have instructed our team to promptly prepare everything necessary for the exchange.”

Mr. Trump’s announcement comes as top U.S. officials met this week with Ukrainian representatives in Miami, and after a call Mr. Trump and Putin had last week.