The US President said he hoped this was “the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly and hard-fought war.” The ceasefire also includes an exchange of 1,000 prisoners at a time, he added.
“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate that President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyj agreed to it,” emphasized the US President, referring to the ceasefire. The president also expressed the hope to journalists that the ceasefire could be extended.
As it became known immediately afterwards, the Ukrainian head of state Zelenskyj ordered by decree that his country not to bombard the Russian parade planned for Saturday to commemorate the end of the Second World War 81 years ago. “For the duration of the parade” on Saturday from 10 a.m. local time (9 a.m. CEST), Moscow’s Red Square will be “excluded from the plan for the use of Ukrainian weapons,” said the order, which was published on the website of the presidential office.
Zelensky also confirmed that the ceasefire would apply on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and that Russia had agreed to a prisoner exchange. “Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who can return home,” he emphasized.
A senior official in the Ukrainian presidential office told AFP that Kiev had “exchanged tomorrow’s absence of drones in Moscow for 1,000 prisoners of war.” Ukraine will behave in a “mirror image” during the ceasefire.
Kremlin chief Putin’s foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, also confirmed the ceasefire and prisoner exchange. The Kremlin welcomed Trump’s proposal. It was “important” that this coincided with Russia’s “holy” holiday, they said.
The Russian leadership had already unilaterally declared a ceasefire for Friday and Saturday. Nevertheless, Russia and Ukraine attacked each other on Friday. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia fired 67 drones on Friday night – the lowest number in almost a month. Meanwhile, Russia said it shot down more than 400 Ukrainian drones, 100 of which were aimed at Moscow.
On Saturday, Russia commemorates its victory over Nazi Germany 81 years ago. A military parade is planned in Moscow to celebrate the anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Unlike in previous years, no tanks or other heavy military equipment will be deployed. Internet blocks were also imposed. The number of foreign guests is also lower than usual – according to the Kremlin, only the heads of state of Belarus, Malaysia and Laos will be present.
The preparations were overshadowed by possible impending Ukrainian attacks on Moscow. Zelensky had warned foreign politicians in advance against taking part in the military parade in the Russian capital.
The Russian Defense Ministry had threatened a retaliatory attack if Ukraine attacked the Russian World War commemoration on May 9th. Moscow called on residents of the Ukrainian capital Kiev and foreign diplomats to leave the city “in a timely manner.”
Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has now been going on for more than four years. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war have been on hold since the last meeting in March. The USA, which mediated the talks, is currently concentrating on the conflict with Iran.
Meanwhile, Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) announced a new European negotiating initiative. “We are ready to take on more responsibility and are in discussions with the USA and Ukraine about this,” Wadephul told “Welt am Sonntag”. “In the E3 format with France and Great Britain, we are making a new attempt to get back into negotiations – with a larger role for Europe in the next weeks and months.”
