Russia says it will support President Donald Trump’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire with Ukraine and a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said Friday, according to TASS.
“At the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, I confirm that U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative regarding the ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine is acceptable to the Russian side,” Ushakov told reporters, TASS reported.
Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday that the ceasefire would run May 9, 10 and 11. He said the truce would include “a suspension of all kinetic activity” and a prisoner swap involving 1,000 prisoners from each country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X that Ukraine had received Russia’s agreement to conduct the exchange through negotiations mediated by the United States.
“A ceasefire regime must also be established on May 9, 10, and 11,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said he had instructed Ukraine’s team to prepare what is needed for the exchange. He described the release of prisoners of war as one of Ukraine’s key humanitarian priorities.
“Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who can be brought home,” Zelenskyy said, referring to discussions around Moscow’s Victory Day events and what he called Ukraine’s long-range sanctions.
Zelenskyy thanked Trump and his team for their diplomatic involvement. He said Ukraine expects the United States to ensure that Russia fulfills the agreements.
The proposed ceasefire comes around Russia’s Victory Day commemorations. Trump said the truce was connected to the May 9 celebration in Russia and also noted Ukraine’s role in World War II.
Separately, Zelenskyy signed a decree excluding the Red Square area in Moscow from Ukraine’s plan for the use of weapons during the May 9 Victory Day parade “for humanitarian purposes,” according to a document published on the Ukrainian presidential website.
Trump said talks on ending the war were continuing and described the ceasefire as a possible step toward ending the conflict.
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