Trump Announces 3 Day Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire and Major Prisoner Exchange

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WASHINGTON —United States President Donald Trump has announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary three-day ceasefire as diplomatic efforts to end the long-running war continue.

According to Trump, the truce will take effect from Saturday through Monday and will include a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 1,000 prisoners of war from each side.

Zelenskyy Confirms Agreement on Social Media

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later confirmed that the temporary ceasefire arrangement had been reached through ongoing negotiations involving the United States.

The agreement comes amid renewed international pressure to reduce hostilities in the conflict, which has continued for more than four years.

Russia Says Discussions Took Place With Washington

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the understanding was achieved through direct communication between Moscow and the US administration.

He stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump recently held discussions that included the possibility of a ceasefire during Russia’s Victory Day commemorations marking World War II.

Russia had earlier proposed a shorter unilateral truce linked to the celebrations, while Ukraine said previous ceasefire proposals had not been fully respected.

Prisoner Swap Included in the Ceasefire Plan

Trump said the temporary halt in fighting would involve the suspension of military operations and a simultaneous exchange of prisoners.

Zelenskyy also acknowledged that preparations were underway for the prisoner swap, which would become one of the largest exchanges since the war began.

Peace Talks Continue Despite Stalled Negotiations

The US president described the agreement as a possible step toward ending the war, saying negotiations between the sides remain active.

However, major disagreements continue over territory in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces currently control large areas.

Moscow has reportedly demanded that Ukraine withdraw troops from remaining parts of the region still under Kyiv’s control, but Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly rejected territorial concessions.

Ukraine and Russia Remain Locked in War of Attrition

The conflict has increasingly turned into a prolonged war of attrition, with both sides continuing military operations despite repeated international mediation attempts.

Trump had previously pledged during his presidential campaign that he would seek to quickly end the conflict if returned to office.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials confirmed that senior negotiator Rustem Umerov recently travelled to the United States for further meetings aimed at advancing stalled peace discussions.