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Russia and Ukraine, two neighbouring countries that have been at war for over four years, have announced a three-day ceasefire. This ceasefire will last from today, May 9, until May 11.
During these three days of ceasefire, Russia and Ukraine will halt all attacks and counter-attacks, and each country will release 1,000 prisoners of war, totalling 2,000.
US President Donald Trump, whose country is mediating the war, made this announcement yesterday, Friday (May 8), in a message posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Trump stated that he had requested both countries for a temporary ceasefire, and the governments of both nations responded to his request and agreed to a ceasefire. The US President also extended his gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for this.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said, “I am pleased to announce that Russia and Ukraine will observe a ceasefire for the next three days (May 9, 10, and 11). This observance in Russia is for Victory Day, and similarly in Ukraine, as they also played a significant part in World War II.”
Incidentally, during World War II, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi army, then Chancellor of Germany, entered the Soviet Union to conquer it. However, they failed, and on May 8, 1945, signed a surrender agreement with the Soviet Union. Since then, May 8 has been celebrated as Victory Day in Russia.
Further emphasizing that during these three days of ceasefire, Russia and Ukraine will halt all attacks against each other and each will release 1,000 prisoners of war, Trump added in his Truth Social post, “I hope this ceasefire marks the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and difficult fight. This is the biggest war since World War II, and our discussions to end this war are ongoing. We are getting closer to ending this war every day. Thank you all for your attention to this matter, from the President of the United States.”
“I hope this is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and difficult fight. Discussions are underway to end this biggest conflict since World War II, and we are getting closer to it every day. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President Donald J. Trump,” Trump further stated.
Shortly after Trump posted this message on Truth Social, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a message that Kyiv had received Russia’s consent to a ceasefire from May 9 to 11 and the exchange of 1,000 prisoners each.
After years of tension stemming from Ukraine’s refusal to recognize the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea as Russian territory under the terms of the 2015 Minsk agreement, and its lobbying for membership in the US-led military alliance NATO, Russian forces launched a special military operation in Ukraine in 2022. That operation has been ongoing for over four years.
Sources: AFP, Al Jazeera.