Zelensky Confirms Temporary Ceasefire with Russia from May 9-11, But Enemy Attacks Persist

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that there will be a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, as confirmed by U.S. President Donald Trump. This temporary truce will take effect on May 9 and last until May 11, coinciding with the World War II Victory Day celebrations.

While visiting Ukrainian units on the front lines in Oleksandrivka, located in the southeast, Zelensky confirmed the agreement but emphasized that "Russian forces continue their offensive against enemy positions despite the declared ceasefire."

"Even with the declared truce, the enemy has not lessened the intensity of their assaults," Zelensky stated. His remarks came on the first day of the 48-hour ceasefire announced by the Kremlin starting at midnight.

Trump shared the news via his platform, Truth Social, stating that he personally requested the ceasefire from both leaders. "I am pleased to announce a three-day ceasefire (May 9, 10, and 11) in the war between Russia and Ukraine," he wrote, expressing gratitude for the acceptance from both Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.

The agreement includes halting all kinetic activities and exchanging 1,000 prisoners from each country, totaling 2,000 individuals released. "This ceasefire will cover the cessation of all kinetic activities, along with a prisoner swap of 1,000 individuals from each side. This request was made directly by me," Trump clarified in his message.

The U.S. President expressed his hope that the ceasefire might be "the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard-fought war," noting that negotiations to end the conflict, which he described as "the largest since World War II," are progressing.

This trilateral truce, mediated directly by Washington, follows days of mutual accusations between Moscow and Kyiv over breaches of previous unilateral ceasefires. Russia had declared its own unilateral truce for May 8 and 9, later extending it to May 10, while Ukraine announced its ceasefire on May 6 as a "gesture of goodwill."

Previous Attempts and Current Hope

Both nations accused each other of violating these previous unilateral truces. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukraine continued to attack military positions, while Zelensky reported that by 7:00 am local time on Friday, "over 140 Russian attacks on front-line positions had been documented."

This recent agreement was preceded by a lengthy phone call, lasting more than 90 minutes, between Trump and Putin on April 29, where the Russian leader suggested a ceasefire for Victory Day. Zelensky initially rejected this proposal, calling it a "manipulation" intended to safeguard the military parade in Moscow, and demanded an unconditional ceasefire lasting at least 30 days.

The Secretary of Ukraine's Security Council, Rustem Umerov, held discussions described as "fruitful" with Trump administration representatives in Miami on Thursday, paving the way for the current agreement.

This new truce is notably different from past efforts, as it has formal acceptance from both sides. In March 2025, Ukraine and Russia agreed to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, but fighting persisted with mutual accusations of violations. Similarly, in April 2026, Putin declared a unilateral ceasefire for Orthodox Easter with similar outcomes.

According to investigative reports, a meeting is scheduled for May 16 in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, the first in over three years. This meeting is expected to address the prisoner exchange agreed upon in this truce, potentially marking the start of formal peace negotiations.