by Sharon Rondeau
(May 8, 2026) — At 2:00 p.m. Friday on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump declared a three-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia beginning May 9 in their long-running military conflict which Trump pledged to resolve promptly prior to taking office for the second time.
The war, now in its fifth year and launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine, a former Soviet satellite, has been somewhat sidelined by the United States’ current conflict with Iran over nuclear weapons.
“I am pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE (May 9th, 10th, and 11th) in the War between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He indicated the ceasefire is for Russia to observe the May 9, 1945 “Victory Day” of the Nazi surrender to the Allies, of which Russia, then the Soviet Union, was one. “The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin,[1]” Wikipedia reports. “The Russian Federation has officially recognized 9 May [as Victory Day] since its formation in 1991 and considers it a non-working holiday even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be a non-working holiday). The holiday was similarly celebrated while the country was part of the Soviet Union. Most other countries in Europe observe Victory in Europe Day (often abbreviated to VE Day, or V-E Day) on 8 May, and Europe Day[b] on 9 May as national remembrance or victory days.”
Ukraine, too, was “also a big part and factor of World War II,” Trump expounded in his post.
On Wednesday, the United Nations Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported 28 people were killed and 194 injured Tuesday, “bringing the reported civilian toll across Ukraine since 1 May to at least 70 killed and more than 500 injured.”
According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, an approximation of Russian soldiers killed over the course of the conflict as of Friday is 1,339,190, an increase of 890 since Thursday.
Since launching efforts last year to broker a peace deal between Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump has been critical of both leaders.
Zelenskyy has reportedly criticized the Trump administration for its decisions involving Russia, particularly those resulting from the war with Iran.
Trump takes credit for having resolved eight other conflicts throughout the world as his second term unfolded.
In Friday’s post, Trump said he requested the ceasefire and reported that each country will repatriate 1,000 captured soldiers. A resolution to the war is “closer and closer every day,” he claimed.
This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country. This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War. Talks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
On Thursday, a Ukrainian negotiator arrived in Miami, the Kyiv Independent reported. “The visit comes as U.S.-mediated peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have remained stalled for more than two months, with Washington increasingly focused on the conflict with Iran.”
On Friday several outlets aired footage of Russia’s Victory Day parade encompassing military displays, musical performances, and attendance by Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
CNN considered this year’s parade as “scaled-down” given the risk of a Ukrainian attack.