Overview
- The White House, Kyiv and Moscow confirmed Friday a U.S.-mediated pause for May 9–11 that halts “all kinetic activity” and sets a 1,000‑for‑1,000 prisoner exchange.
- Reports from both sides described drone and missile activity as the truce took effect, with Ukraine saying Russian assaults continued and Russia claiming it downed large numbers of Ukrainian drones.
- The timing aligns with a scaled-back Victory Day in Moscow that will feature no tanks or missile launchers and include tighter security such as intermittent mobile internet restrictions.
- Zelensky issued a decree saying Ukraine would not target Red Square to prioritize bringing prisoners home, and Trump said he hopes the short ceasefire can be extended.
- A swap of this size could quickly reunite thousands of families, yet past holiday pauses have collapsed fast, which leaves doubts about how long this truce can last.