US President Donald Trump announced on May 8, 2026 that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire starting May 9 and lasting until May 11. The agreement also includes a large prisoner exchange, with 1,000 prisoners being released from each side.
Trump posted on Truth Social that he personally asked both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to agree to the ceasefire, and both leaders said yes. He called it a positive step and expressed hope that it could be the beginning of the end of a war that has gone on for more than four years.
The ceasefire lines up with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9. Both Russia and Ukraine have confirmed they will respect the pause in fighting. The deal was reached with US mediation.
Trump described the development as a big diplomatic win and praised his own efforts in pushing for peace since returning to office. Many of his supporters called him the leader who finally brought some relief after years of ongoing conflict.
However, it is important to note that this is only a short humanitarian pause — not a permanent ceasefire or a full peace agreement. Short ceasefires in this war have broken down quickly in the past.
Talks for a longer and more lasting solution are said to be continuing. The world is now watching closely to see whether this three-day truce can help build trust between the two sides and open the door to bigger progress toward ending the war.
