Tag Archives: ukraine war ends

Ukraine Begins Truce, Hands Russia List of 1,000 Prisoners to Swap

Posted on by
Reply

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has submitted a list of 1,000 detainees to Russia as part of preparations for a major prisoner exchange between the two sides amid the ongoing conflict.

According to Ukraine’s presidential press service, Zelensky said the proposed “1,000 for 1,000” prisoner exchange was being actively prepared and was expected to take place soon.

“The prisoner exchange, 1,000 for 1,000, is being prepared and must take place. The Americans assumed responsibility for these guarantees,” Zelensky said in his evening address on Sunday. He also reiterated the need to end the conflict with Russia and ensure long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.

Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said Moscow was now indicating readiness for direct talks. “Now Putin himself says that he is finally ready for real meetings. We pushed him a little toward this, and we have long been ready for such meetings ourselves, now a format must be found,” he said.

3-Day Ceasefire in Effect

Russia and Ukraine had on Friday agreed to a three-day ceasefire coinciding with Victory Day commemorations, along with the planned exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side.

However, both countries on Sunday accused each other of repeatedly violating the temporary truce.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed Ukrainian forces committed 16,071 ceasefire violations over the previous 24 hours. Moscow said its troops responded with retaliatory strikes targeting artillery systems, command centres and drone launch sites. A day earlier, the ministry had reported 8,970 alleged ceasefire breaches across several regions.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities said at least one person was killed and 15 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine despite the ceasefire arrangement. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said Russian troops carried out around 60 attacks on Ukrainian positions on Sunday.

The temporary ceasefire was scheduled to remain in effect from Saturday through Monday during Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.

Putin says Ukraine war ‘nearing’ end, echoes Trump’s post

Posted on by
Reply

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the war in Ukraine may be “coming to an end,” days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a temporary three-day ceasefire and urged both Moscow and Kyiv to move toward a broader peace agreement.

Speaking after Russia’s Victory Day events in Moscow, Putin said he believed “the matter is coming to an end,” while indicating that direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could be possible if both sides agree on a long-term settlement framework.

Putin’s remarks came after Trump earlier announced what he described as a “three-day ceasefire” between May 9 and May 11, brokered through U.S.-led diplomatic efforts. Trump said he hoped the temporary truce would become “the beginning of something much bigger” and lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities.

He also confirmed a major prisoner exchange involving 1,000 detainees from each side, calling it “an important first step toward peace.”

Trump had earlier described the war as “madness” and said Washington was prepared to send senior officials to Moscow to help facilitate negotiations if the ceasefire holds.

5 Years of Pain for Europe, Other Nations

The Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fifth year since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, killing or wounding hundreds of thousands and displacing millions.

Russia currently controls nearly 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory, though its military has failed to fully seize the eastern Donbas region despite sustained offensives.

This year’s Victory Day parade reflected the strain of the prolonged conflict. For the first time in nearly two decades, no tanks rolled through Red Square. Instead, large digital displays showcased missile systems and drones as heavily guarded troops marched before the Kremlin.

Zelenskyy responded cautiously to Putin’s comments, saying Ukraine would judge Russia by “actions, not statements.”

Although both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of minor ceasefire violations, no major escalation has been reported during the temporary truce.

Diplomatic observers say Putin’s statement appears to align with Trump’s recent push for direct negotiations, though Western governments remain cautious and insist that any peace agreement must guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.