Natalie Muller | Felix Tamsut with AFP, dpa, Reuters, AP
Published 05/08/2026Published May 8, 2026
The US president said both sides had agreed to halt fighting from May 9 to 11 and to exchange 1,000 prisoners each. Both Ukraine and Russia confirmed the ceasefire and prisoner exchange. Follow DW for more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DSxH
Advertisement
Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
US President Donald Trump announces 3-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia
Both Ukraine and Russia confirm the ceasefire and prisoner exchange
Ukraine's Zelenskyy calls Russia's unilateral ceasefire 'not even a token attempt'
Moscow to hold scaled-back Victory Day parade
We've concluded coverage. Below is a roundup of everything you need to know about Russia's war in Ukraine on Friday, May 8.
Skip next section Russia confirms 3-day ceasefire with Ukraine
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
Russia confirms 3-day ceasefire with Ukraine
Russia has agreed to US President Donald Trump's initiative for a ceasefire with Ukraine from May 9 to May 11, as well as to carry out a prisoner exchange during that period, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
"I confirm the acceptability for the Russian side of the initiative just proposed by US President Donald Trump, concerning a ceasefire for a prisoner-of-war exchange between Russia and Ukraine," he told journalists.
Trump announced on social media earlier that the ceasefire would last from Saturday through Monday.
Russia downscales V-Day parade amid Ukrainian drone surge
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5DVXr
Skip next section Zelenskyy orders army not to attack Moscow parade on May 9
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
Zelenskyy orders army not to attack Moscow parade on May 9
Following US President Donald Trump's initial announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that a three-day truce had been arranged with Russia.
"That is why today, within the framework of the negotiating process mediated by the American side, we received Russia’s agreement to conduct a prisoner exchange in the format of 1,000 for 1,000. A ceasefire regime must also be established on May 9, 10, and 11," he wrote on X.
Zelenskyy also ordered the Ukrainian army not to attack Moscow's Red Square during the WWII Victory Day parade on May 9.
"For the duration of the parade (from 10:00 am (07:00 am GMT) Kyiv time on May 9, 2026), the area of Red Square shall be excluded from the plan for the use of Ukrainian weapons," said a decree on the presidential website.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DVXj
Skip next section Trump announces 3-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
Trump announces 3-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia
US President Donald Trump announced on social media that a three-day ceasefire would take place from May 9 to May 11 in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
"This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Trump said he had made the request for a halt in fighting, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had agreed.
"Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War," Trump said, adding that "talks are continuing."
Moscow and Kyiv had announced their own unilateral ceasefires, but each side also accused the other of breaching the truces.
US-led efforts to broker a peace agreement have long been stalled.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DVVU
Skip next section US willing to mediate but not to waste time: Rubio
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
US willing to mediate but not to waste time: Rubio
Dmytro Hubenko Editor
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is still prepared to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to end the war between them if it can be productive.
At the same time, Rubio said the US does not want to waste time if no progress is made.
Earlier today, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expected US envoys to visit Kyiv in the coming weeks in a bid to restart the negotiations over ending the war, which started with Russia's full-scale invasion into the country in February 2022.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DUSD
Skip next section Why Russia has scaled back its May 9 Victory Parade
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
Why Russia has scaled back its May 9 Victory Parade
The traditional Victory Day parade in the Russian capital, Moscow, will not feature the usual display of military vehicles on Red Square, and no cadets from prestigious military academies will attend.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, explained that no military hardware would be used in the celebrations because of the "terrorist threat" from Ukraine.
In some regions of Russia, the Victory Day celebrations have been canceled entirely.
More on the reasons behind Russia's scaled-back parade:
Why Russia has scaled back May 9 Victory Parade
https://p.dw.com/p/5DU8T
Skip next section US envoys to visit Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
US envoys to visit Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he expected US envoys sent by President Donald Trump to visit Kyiv in a bid to restart efforts on bringing the war to an end.
"We are coordinating the schedule of necessary visits and expect representatives of the American President at the turn of spring-summer," Zelenskyy posted on social media, adding that he hopes that this round of talks would lead to "activating diplomacy."
The US-led negotiations have so far failed to bring about a breakthrough which would end the war launched by Russia on Ukraine, despite holding several rounds of talks.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DU0j
Skip next section More than 3,000 attacks on Ukraine's healthcare recorded: WHO
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
More than 3,000 attacks on Ukraine's healthcare recorded: WHO
More than 3,000 attacks on Ukraine's healthcare system have been registered since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
According to the WHO, about 80% of the attacks have been on outpatient clinics, hospitals and other health institutions, with the remaining 20% of the strikes being on ambulances and other health-related vehicles.
Hans Kluge, the director of WHO Europe, said every single one of the attacks recorded is a "violation of international humanitarian law," adding such attacks "cannot be normalized."
According to the UN, almost 13 million people in Ukraine require humanitarian aid.
Life in Kyiv: Working through war and blackouts
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5DTjT
Skip next section Fire near Chernobyl due to crashed drone: Ukraine
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
Fire near Chernobyl due to crashed drone: Ukraine
A drone crash caused a large forest fire within the Chernobyl exclusion zone near the area's defunct nuclear plant, Ukrainian authorities said.
According to the local authorities, radiation levels in the area were within "normal limits," with firefighters being on site to work on containing the fire.
Ukraine has repeatedly blamed Russia for carrying out attacks on its nuclear sites.
The area around the Chernobyl nuclear plant has largely been deserted since the catastrophic meltdown at the plant in April 1986.
Chernobyl radiation fears resurface as Ukraine war drags on
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5DTUb
Skip next section Moscow prepares for more subdued Victory Day parade
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
Moscow prepares for more subdued Victory Day parade
Russia will hold its annual victory parade over Nazi Germany in Moscow on Saturday, with the parade expected to be much smaller than in previous years, as tanks and other heavy military equipment being left out due to worries over Ukrainian attacks.
The number of foreign guests at the parade will be much more limited than in previous years, with only the leaders of Belarus, Malaysia and Laos attending, the Kremlin said.
The leaders of two Georgian breakaway republics backed by Russia not recognized by the UN will also be in attendance.
World War Two, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War, is one of the central elements emphasized by Vladimir Putin during his 25-year rule in the country.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DT3B
Skip next section Russia says army responding 'symmetrically' to Ukraine attacks
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
Russia says army responding 'symmetrically' to Ukraine attacks
Russia's army said it was responding "symmetrically" to Ukrainian attacks.
This comes during Moscow's unilateral two-day ceasefire, which Ukraine never agreed to, blaming Russia for only wanting a halt in fighting so that it would be able to celebrate an extravagant Victory Day parade over Nazi Germany in its capital.
According to Russia's Defense Ministry, Ukraine shot hundreds of drones and carried out artillery strikes on the front line.
The threat of Ukrainian attacks also resulted in more than a dozen airports in southern Russia being closed, according to the country's aviation authorities.
Earlier, Russia threatened that any attempt to disrupt the Parade in Moscow will be answered by a heavy attack.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DT0W
Skip next section Zelenskyy criticizes Russia's 'not even token attempt' at ceasefire
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
Zelenskyy criticizes Russia's 'not even token attempt' at ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday called Russia's unilateral ceasefire announcement "not even a token attempt."
"As we did over the past 24 hours, Ukraine will respond in kind today as well," Zelensky wrote on X.
Ukraine criticized Russian leader Vladimir Putin for only announcing the ceasefire so that he would be able to hold the Victory Day Parade over Nazi Germany in Moscow. Zelenskyy also said Russia carried out hundreds of attacks on the front line using short-range drones.
Kyiv said Moscow ignored a Ukrainian counter-proposal to halt fighting earlier this week, Zelensky had cast the Ukrainian proposal as a test of whether the Kremlin was serious about providing a brief respite in the four-year war.
But already on Wednesday, Ukraine said that Russia had shown no will to stop fighting, by attacking Ukrainian cities overnight with more than 100 combat drones and three missiles.
At least 27 people were killed and dozens more injured in Russian strikes across eastern Ukraine late on Tuesday night.
President Zelenskyy said one attack in the city of Poltava was "especially vile" because Russia launched a second missile at the same target when emergency rescuers were working at the scene.
Ukraine accuses Russia of violating truce with drone barrage
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5DSzZ
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage
05/08/2026May 8, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Russia may have unilaterally called a ceasefire in its full-scale war in Ukraine to celebrate its World War Two Victory Day over Nazi Germany, but Ukraine never agreed, and Russia has continued launching missiles and drones throughout the week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Russia's announcement "not even a token" of a ceasefire attempt.
Meanwhile, Moscow's Victory Day parade set for Saturday will be held without any military equipment due to worries of Ukrainian strikes, with Russia threatening to strike Ukraine heavily should it disrupt the Parade with attacks.
Follow DW as we give you all the latest.
Ukraine war: Will the Victory Day ceasefire hold?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5DSxa
Show more posts
