UNITED NATIONS, May 9 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes a three-day ceasefire and a planned exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia, his spokesperson said Saturday.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate, full, unconditional and lasting ceasefire, as a first step toward a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions," Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Russia and Ukraine on Friday agreed to a ceasefire from Saturday to Monday and a "thousand-for-thousand" prisoner exchange. ■