Victory Day in Russia<\/a>, a holiday that commemorates the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.<\/p>\n\u201cI am pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE (May 9th, 10th, and 11th) in the War between Russia and Ukraine,\u201d Trump wrote. \u201cThe Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but, likewise, in Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Republican president said the ceasefire includes a suspension of all kinetic activity and the exchange of 1,000 prisoners by each country.<\/p>\n
Russia had announced a ceasefire for Friday and Saturday, but it quickly unraveled, with both sides blaming the other for the continued fighting, just as they had when Ukraine\u2019s own unilateral ceasefire had swiftly collapsed earlier in the week.<\/p>\n
Trump said he made his request for the ceasefire \u201cdirectly\u201d to the two presidents. \u201cHopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War,” he said.<\/p>\n
Trump added that talks continue over ending the war that began in February 2022 \u201cand we are getting closer and closer every day.\u201d Trump has gone back and forth over whether the war will end, at times expressing optimism and at other times saying Russia and Ukraine should be left to fight it out to the bitter end. <\/p>\n
Zelenskyy said Ukraine\u2019s decision on how to engage with those discussions was shaped in part by the prospect of freeing its prisoners. Ukraine has made the return of prisoners of war a central demand throughout the conflict.<\/p>\n
\u201cRed Square matters less to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners of war who can be brought home,\u201d Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. Red Square is where Russia holds its traditional military parade to celebrate Victory Day, one of the biggest holidays of the year.<\/p>\n
After releasing his statement, Zelenskyy issued a formal presidential decree \u201cauthorizing\u201d Russia to hold the parade, declaring Red Square off-limits for Ukrainian strikes for the duration of the event. The framing of the decree appeared designed to underscore Kyiv\u2019s claim that it holds effective targeting reach over the Russian capital, while publicly tying Ukrainian restraint to the ceasefire terms.<\/p>\n
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later shrugged off Zelenskyy\u2019s decree as a \u201csilly joke.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need anyone\u2019s permission to be proud of our Victory Day,\u201d Peskov told reporters.<\/p>\n
Zelenskyy said the deal for a ceasefire was reached through a U.S.-mediated process and thanked Trump and the American team for what he called effective diplomatic engagement. He said Ukraine expected Washington to hold Russia to the terms of the agreement. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are counting on the United States to ensure that Russia fulfills its commitments,\u201d Zelenskyy said.<\/p>\n
Zelenskyy said he had instructed his team to prepare everything necessary for the exchange without delay. <\/p>\n
Trump’s announcement came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a much more somber tone about negotiations to halt Russia\u2019s 4-year-old war in Ukraine, saying U.S. mediation efforts have not led to a \u201cfruitful outcome\u201d so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we\u2019re prepared to play whatever role we can to bring it to a peaceful diplomatic resolution, unfortunately right now, those efforts have stagnated,\u201d Rubio told reporters at the end of a visit to Rome and the Vatican. \u201cBut we always stand ready if those circumstances change.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u2014-<\/p>\n
Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv and Giada Zampano in Rome contributed to this report. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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