Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has announced a 32-hour ceasefire in the war with Ukraine to coincide with the Orthodox Easter celebrations, following a similar call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a temporary halt in fighting.
According to the Kremlin, the truce will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday (9 a.m. ET) and run until the end of Sunday, during which Russian forces have been instructed to suspend military operations.
In its statement, the Kremlin said troops were directed “to halt combat operations on all fronts during this period. The troops are to be ready to repel any possible provocations by the adversary, as well as any aggressive actions on its part.”
It added that Moscow expects Kyiv to respond in kind, stating, “We proceed from the assumption that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation,”
On his part, Zelensky had earlier indicated Ukraine’s willingness for a temporary pause, saying the proposal was already conveyed through US mediators. Writing on X, he stressed the need for a peaceful Easter period and renewed Ukraine’s call for a halt in hostilities.
“We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays this year and will act accordingly. People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well.”
The development comes as US-backed diplomatic efforts continue to seek an end to the prolonged conflict, now in its fourth year, although previous ceasefire attempts have largely collapsed with both sides trading accusations of violations.
Last Easter, Putin also declared a short-lived 30-hour truce that was quickly undermined amid mutual claims of breaches.
Meanwhile, negotiations led by the United States have struggled to produce lasting progress, even as attention has increasingly shifted to other global crises. A major sticking point remains Moscow’s demand that Ukraine cede territory it currently occupies.
Russia continues to control roughly 20% of internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and significant parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Moscow has also insisted Ukraine surrender all four regions in their entirety, despite not fully controlling them.
