US President Donald Trump announced Friday that Russia and Ukraine have accepted his proposal for a three-day ceasefire along with a large-scale prisoner exchange, describing the move as a possible turning point in the ongoing war.
Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirmed the agreement.
Speaking before departing the White House, Trump said both leaders quickly agreed to the temporary pause in fighting. He called the halt in violence an encouraging step and expressed hope that it could mark the beginning of the end of the conflict.
Earlier in the day, Trump revealed on social media that the ceasefire would take place from Saturday through Monday. The timing coincides with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, which honor the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
According to Trump, the agreement includes a full suspension of military operations and a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side.
Russia had already announced a separate ceasefire for Friday and Saturday, but clashes reportedly continued, with Moscow and Kyiv each accusing the other of violating the truce. Similar accusations followed Ukraine’s earlier unilateral ceasefire attempt earlier in the week.
Trump said he personally requested the ceasefire from both Putin and Zelenskyy and added that ongoing negotiations to end the war, which began in February 2022, are making gradual progress.
Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine’s willingness to participate in the discussions was strongly influenced by the opportunity to secure the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, an issue Kyiv has consistently prioritized throughout the conflict.
In a message posted on Telegram, Zelenskyy said the lives of Ukrainian prisoners were more important than events taking place in Moscow’s Red Square, where Russia traditionally hosts its annual Victory Day military parade.
He later signed a presidential decree formally allowing Russia to hold the parade without fear of Ukrainian strikes during the ceasefire period. The move appeared intended to emphasize Ukraine’s ability to target the Russian capital while demonstrating restraint under the terms of the agreement.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the decree as meaningless, insisting Russia did not require permission to celebrate Victory Day.
Zelenskyy credited U.S.-led diplomacy for helping secure the agreement and thanked Trump and the American negotiating team for their efforts. He also said Ukraine expects Washington to ensure Russia follows through on its commitments.
The Ukrainian leader added that officials had already begun preparing for the prisoner exchange process.
Trump’s optimistic remarks contrasted with comments made earlier Friday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who acknowledged that diplomatic efforts to end the war had so far failed to produce major progress. Speaking in Rome after meetings at the Vatican, Rubio said negotiations had stalled but stressed that the United States remains ready to assist if conditions improve.