Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
US President Donald Trump has announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange, describing the development as a potential turning point that could mark the “beginning of the end” of the long-running war.
In a post on social media, Trump said the ceasefire would run from Saturday through Monday and include a complete suspension of what he described as “kinetic activity” between the two sides. The agreement also reportedly includes the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each country, one of the largest swaps since the conflict began.
The timing of the ceasefire carries symbolic weight, coinciding with Russia’s Victory Day on Saturday, which marks the country’s World War II victory over Nazi Germany and is traditionally observed with major national commemorations.
Trump framed the agreement as a breakthrough moment in ongoing diplomatic efforts, expressing optimism that even a temporary halt in fighting could open the door to broader negotiations. He said the pause in hostilities could represent the “beginning of the end” of a war that has dragged on for years and reshaped global geopolitics.
While details of the agreement remain limited, the announcement suggests a rare moment of coordination between Moscow and Kyiv amid continued international efforts to reduce battlefield escalation and address humanitarian concerns, particularly the issue of prisoners of war.
The reported ceasefire, if implemented as described, would mark one of the most significant temporary pauses in the conflict since it began, though previous attempts at localized truces and humanitarian corridors have often broken down amid renewed fighting and mutual accusations of violations.
International reactions to the announcement are expected to develop as governments assess whether the ceasefire will hold beyond the initial three-day window and whether it could serve as a foundation for longer-term negotiations.
