⚡️ Comment by Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov on the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire for a POW exchange (May 8, 2026)

💬 Yury Ushakov: On behalf of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, I confirm that the Russian Side finds acceptable the initiative just proposed by US President Donald Trump concerning a ceasefire to perform an exchange of POWs between Russia and Ukraine.

The relevant agreement was reached during our telephone contacts with the US Presidential Administration. US representatives, for their part, maintained contact with Kiev.

The main arrangement for the ceasefire period – from May 9 through the end of May 11 – is to exchange POWS, 1,000 people from each side.

We welcome this initiative, which builds on the recent telephone conversation between the Presidents of Russia and the US, during which the Leaders placed special emphasis on the fact that our countries were Allies during World War II, and also discussed the possibility of a ceasefire for the Victory Day celebrations.

It is important that President Trump’s initiative is timed precisely to coincide with the 81st anniversary of Victory over Nazism – our sacred holiday.