A temporary halt in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine began Saturday, offering war-weary civilians their first peaceful nights in months as part of a three-day truce negotiated by American officials.
President Donald Trump announced Friday that both nations had committed to the ceasefire running from May 9 through May 11, which also includes an exchange of prisoners. Trump expressed optimism for a “big extension” of the agreement.
The pause in fighting coincided with Russia’s World War Two victory commemoration in Moscow, which proceeded without incident despite earlier Russian threats of potential Ukrainian attacks that could have prompted massive retaliation against Kyiv.
Ukrainian air defense forces reported detecting some unmanned aircraft along the extensive 1,000-kilometer front line stretching across southeastern Ukraine during morning hours, though no missile alerts were issued overnight or into Saturday.
“On the one hand, this is very good because, honestly, the sleepless nights have gotten a bit tiresome,” said Kateryna Kizev, who evacuated from the frontline city of Kherson in the south and currently resides in Cherkasy in central Ukraine.
“At least for a few days we will be able to sleep in peace and without the attacks,” the 22-year-old told Reuters at Kyiv’s Independence Square during a weekend visit to the capital.
KREMLIN SAYS A UKRAINIAN SETTLEMENT IS COMPLICATED
Ever since Russia launched its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has bombarded power facilities and critical infrastructure throughout Ukraine using missiles and drones, while Kyiv has targeted Russia’s energy production and export sites.
Diplomatic efforts have reached an impasse, with Ukraine refusing Russia’s conditions that it relinquish territory it has successfully protected after forcing Russian troops away from the capital during the early stages of the conflict.
“It is understandable that the American side is in a hurry,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television reporter Pavel Zarubin.
“But the issue of a Ukrainian settlement is far too complex, and reaching a peace agreement is a very long way with complex details,” Peskov said.
The temporary truce encompasses a halt to all “kinetic activity” and an arrangement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from both sides. Officials had not announced Saturday when the prisoner swap would occur.
“There were no strikes on the Red Square. Obviously, there was no massive retaliatory missile strike on Kyiv from us,” Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters.
Both Russia and Ukraine had previously declared individual ceasefires starting on different days this week, but each side rapidly accused the other of violations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy indicated the current truce resulted from ongoing U.S. diplomatic initiatives and emphasized that humanitarian concerns remain central to Kyiv’s priorities.
UKRAINE MARKS VICTORY DAY DIFFERENTLY
Ukraine, which remained part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and suffered millions of casualties during World War Two, shifted its remembrance ceremonies for the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany from May 9 to May 8 after Russia’s invasion began.
However, some Ukrainian citizens who lost family members during World War Two continue to place flowers at Soviet military monuments on May 9.
“This ceasefire – for a day, or two or three – these are temporary measures. We need peace. It is the fifth year already. It is enough,” Oleksandr Boiko told Reuters in Kharkiv.
“I have lost everything… We need peace.”
Another Kharkiv resident, Ramaz Tsytsyashvili, expressed hope that the ceasefire might create opportunities for additional discussions to conclude the war.
“And perhaps there will be a miracle and this temporary silence, this ceasefire, will hold up a bit and continue, and then step by step it will move to negotiations, and affairs will be solved in offices, not on the battlefield.”
