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U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the leaders of Russia and Ukraine have agreed to his request for a three-day ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners, adding that such a halt to hostilities could be the “beginning of the end” of the long war between them.
Trump announced on social media that the ceasefire would run Saturday through Monday. Saturday is Victory Day in Russia, a holiday that commemorates its victory over Nazi Germany 81 years ago in the Second World War.
“The Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but, likewise, in Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II,” he said.
Suspension of activity, prisoner exchange
The Republican president said the ceasefire includes a suspension of all kinetic activity and the exchange of 1,000 prisoners by each country.
“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” Trump said. “Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War.”
Trump added that talks continue over ending the war “and we are getting closer and closer every day.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed a three-day ceasefire had been arranged with Russia as part of U.S. efforts to negotiate an end to the more than four-year-old war.
Zelenskyy, writing on Telegram, also said each of the two sides would be exchanging 1,000 prisoners of war.