Trump Announces 3-Day Ukraine–Russia Ceasefire Starting Victory Day (May 9) — Both Putin and Zelensky Accept

On May 8, 2026, President Trump announced that both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a U.S.-brokered 3-day ceasefire running May 9–11, coinciding with Russia's Victory Day commemoration. Trump described it as 'the beginning of the end' of the conflict. Terms reportedly include a full suspension of kinetic military activity and an exchange of 1,000 prisoners per side. The announcement followed two failed competing unilateral ceasefire bids earlier in the week — Russia's own Victory Day truce (May 8–9) and Ukraine's counter-proposal (May 5–6) — both of which collapsed almost immediately, with Russia launching 108 combat drones and 3 missiles and Zelensky reporting 1,820 violations. The Trump-brokered 3-day ceasefire represented the first concrete bilateral diplomatic deliverable from the U.S. Ukraine-Russia mediation track. Zelensky issued a formal decree 'authorizing' Russia to hold its Victory Day parade — a pointed statement underscoring Ukraine's claimed precision-strike capability over Moscow. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff brokered the arrangement with Russia and Ukraine. Analysts cautioned that a 3-day tactical truce does not address fundamental gaps separating the parties: control of Donetsk and other Russian-occupied territories, Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations, and long-term security guarantees for Kyiv.