Putin Announces Unilateral Easter Ceasefire In Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, directing his troops to halt all fighting starting at 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday and continuing through the end of Sunday.

There was no immediate reaction from Ukraine.

“Based on humanitarian considerations … the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period,” Putin told his military chief, Valery Gerasimov, at a meeting in the Kremlin.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that commanders involved in the “special military operation” had received the ceasefire instructions and stated that Russian forces would observe the ceasefire as long as it was mutually respected.

“We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions,” Putin added.

The Russian Defence Ministry said it had given instructions on the ceasefire to all group commanders in the area of the “special military operation”, the Kremlin’s term for the war.

Russian troops will adhere to the ceasefire provided it is “mutually respected” by Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement.

Russian Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded with skepticism, citing ongoing Russian drone attacks despite the ceasefire declaration. He emphasized the need for genuine commitment to peace rather than symbolic gestures.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has left hundreds of thousands of dead and injured, displaced millions of people, reduced towns to rubble and triggered the sharpest confrontation for decades between Moscow and the West.

Ukraine and its allies describe Russia’s invasion as an imperial-style land grab, and Zelenskyy has repeatedly vowed to defeat Russian forces. Russian forces control nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory and have been edging forward since mid-2024.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the United States might withdraw from peace negotiations if no substantial progress is made. They urged both sides to advance talks, highlighting the importance of a lasting resolution to the conflict.

(With inputs from Reuters)