Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as confirmed by the Kremlin. In a televised statement on Saturday, Putin declared that Russian forces would observe a truce from 6:00 p.m. Moscow time (15:00 GMT) until midnight on Sunday (21:00 GMT), and expressed hope that Ukraine would mirror the gesture.
Putin’s remarks came during a conversation with Russia’s chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov. He instructed military leadership to remain vigilant in case Ukraine violates the ceasefire, indicating a cautious stance despite the proposed pause in hostilities.
The Russian Ministry of Defence later posted a statement on Telegram, describing the ceasefire as a humanitarian measure. The ministry stressed that the truce would be upheld only if Ukrainian forces reciprocate.
The announcement follows a recent agreement by Putin to suspend strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days, reportedly after a call with U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite this, both Russia and Ukraine have reported multiple incidents of continued attacks.
While Ukraine has previously voiced readiness to support a broader, U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, Russia has so far declined to fully commit to the plan. On Saturday, Russian media quoted Putin accusing Kyiv of breaching the current ceasefire over 100 times, particularly targeting energy infrastructure.
Nonetheless, Putin claimed that Russia’s position along the front lines remains strong and reiterated Moscow’s openness to diplomatic negotiations. He also acknowledged international efforts, including those by the U.S. and China, to mediate a just resolution to the conflict.
