Truce between Russia and Ukraine on Victory Day

Oskar Forsberg

Updated 20.44 | Published 20.03

 

Tomorrow, Victory Day will be celebrated in Russia and Ukraine. Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko /AP/TT

Russia and Ukraine declare a ceasefire from May 9 to 11.

Donald Trump writes on Truth Social.

"This request was made directly by me," he writes in his post.

This weekend, Victory Day will be celebrated in Russia and Ukraine. It is a celebration of the victory over Nazi Germany.

In connection with this, a ceasefire will also be declared. US President Donald Trump writes on Truth Social.

A prisoner exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each country will also take place, he further writes in his post.

“Talks are still ongoing to end this major conflict, the largest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day,” Trump continues. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyj confirms on X that a three-day ceasefire has been reached:

– Today we received Russia's consent to carry out a prisoner exchange in the format of 1000 for 1000, writes the Ukrainian president.

He continues:

– Ukraine is consistently working to bring its people home from Russian captivity. I have instructed our team to quickly prepare everything necessary for the exchange, writes Zelenskyj and thanks the American president.

Recently, the games between Ukraine and Russia have been replacing each other. It has just been about a possible ceasefire, on the occasion of Victory Day.

          

         Supporters of the Communist Party lay flowers in Moscow. Photo: Pavel Bednyakov/AP

May 8th or 9th

On May 9th, Russia celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II – or the Great Patriotic War, as it is called there. Many millions of Soviet soldiers and civilians died in the war.

Vladimir Putin has attached increasing importance to Victory Day and the parade in Moscow, but the Russian celebration is sensitive in many other former Soviet states where great sacrifices were also made. Relations with Russia have changed and the grand parades are seen as propaganda for today's Russian armed forces, writes TT.

         

         A Russian drone attack in Kiev. Photo: AP/TT

Russia justifies its war of invasion against Ukraine with lies that the country is ruled by “Nazis” and that Ukrainian independence is extremist – to give the impression that today’s war continues the struggle that was waged more than 80 years ago, and to allude to a victory story that is deeply rooted in many Russians.

Nazi Germany surrendered after midnight on May 9, 1945 Moscow time. Ukraine has moved the entire holiday to May 8, in line with countries to the west, as a mark.