Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine over the Orthodox Easter holiday, instructing Russian forces to halt combat operations from 6:00 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21. The announcement was made during a televised meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
According to the Kremlin, the decision was made on humanitarian grounds to allow for peaceful Easter celebrations. Putin stated he hoped Ukraine would “demonstrate wisdom” and respond with a reciprocal halt in hostilities.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that commanders operating in the so-called “special military operation” zone have received orders to comply with the temporary truce, but emphasized that troops remain authorized to respond to any Ukrainian provocations or violations.
Ukraine has not yet officially responded to the proposal. In the past, similar ceasefire announcements during religious holidays were short-lived or marred by mutual accusations of violations.
This marks the first major ceasefire initiative publicly declared by Russia since the 2023 Christmas truce, which failed to fully materialize amid continued fighting on both sides.
Analysts are watching closely to see whether this Easter ceasefire will hold and potentially open the door for broader negotiations in the ongoing conflict.
