Ukraine and Russia have agreed in principle to conduct a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange alongside a temporary ceasefire from 9–11 May, according to statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.
Zelenskyy said the agreement was reached through negotiations mediated by the United States and linked the arrangement to humanitarian priorities surrounding the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Zelenskyy says POW return outweighed pressure around Moscow celebrations
In a statement published on 8 May, Zelenskyy referred to “many signals and appeals” regarding security around Moscow during Russia’s Victory Day events, which take place annually on 9 May.
He said Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities and “principle of reciprocity” were well known to Russia, but stressed that securing the return of Ukrainian prisoners remained the greater priority.
“Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who can be returned home,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukraine had instructed officials to urgently prepare the exchange process.
Planned ceasefire would cover 9–11 May
According to Zelenskyy, the agreement includes a temporary “regime of silence” covering 9, 10, and 11 May.
Ukraine’s official decree on the matter also includes precise geographic coordinates defining a “protected” area around Moscow’s Red Square during the planned period, specifying a territorial square where Ukrainian weapons are to be excluded from use.
Trump separately announced what he described as a “three-day ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine in a post on Truth Social, saying the arrangement would include both a halt in combat operations and the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side.
“I very much appreciate the agreement” of both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump wrote.
Victory Day remains symbolically important for Moscow
The proposed ceasefire period overlaps with Russia’s Victory Day commemorations on 9 May, a major state holiday marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
The event is traditionally used by the Kremlin for large military parades and public displays of military power on Moscow’s Red Square.
The statements from Kyiv and Washington come after earlier Ukrainian reports that Russia’s previously announced ceasefire measures had not been observed along the frontline, with shelling and drone attacks continuing despite Moscow’s declarations.
