Khaberni - Russia and Ukraine announced on Friday their agreement on US President Donald Trump's initiative concerning a temporary ceasefire for three days, and the exchange of a thousand prisoners between the two sides.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on social media that "the lives of the Ukrainian prisoners who will return to their homes are more important to us than the Red Square," confirming Russia's agreement to conduct a prisoner swap "in the formula of a thousand for a thousand."
Yuri Ushakov, the foreign policy advisor in the Russian presidency, told journalists in Moscow that the ceasefire initiative is linked to the 81st anniversary of the former Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
He confirmed that, based on the directions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow agreed to Trump's proposal to halt the fighting to exchange war prisoners between Russia and Ukraine.
He also confirmed that an agreement was reached to exchange a thousand wartime prisoners during the ceasefire period from May 9 to May 11.
Earlier on Friday, President Trump announced a temporary truce between Russia and Ukraine from May 9 to May 11, stating that this initiative was at his direct request, adding that he hopes it will be "the beginning of the end of this long, bloody, and difficult war."
Last Monday, the Russian President declared a truce in Ukraine on May 8 and 9 on the occasion of "Victory Day," which Moscow celebrates annually on the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, typically marked by a massive military parade in the Red Square in the Russian capital.
Mutual Attacks
Before Trump's announcement of the truce, Russia and Ukraine launched mutual attacks last Friday, with the Ukrainian Air Force stating that Russia launched 67 drones overnight, the lowest number in about a month. The Ukrainian President reported that Russia had attacked the frontline trenches with approximately 850 drones in recent hours.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its forces had destroyed more than 400 Ukrainian drones since midnight, stating that it "responds reciprocally."
The Russian Ministry of Transport announced the closure of about 13 airports in southern Russia on Friday, after a Ukrainian drone hit an air navigation center in Rostov-on-Don, located in the south.
Putin chaired a security meeting regarding the strike, considering it as an act of "terrorist nature" that could endanger civil aviation.
Meanwhile, a large forest fire broke out in the closed area of Chernobyl in northern Ukraine on Friday following the crash of two drones the previous Thursday, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Authorities reported that radiation levels at the site were within "normal limits," adding that firefighting teams were working to contain the fire.
