Putin Declares Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine, Orders Halt to Russian Offensive Until Sunday Night
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a unilateral truce for the Easter weekend, calling on Ukraine to reciprocate while keeping Russian forces on alert for potential violations.
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday announced a unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, instructing Russian troops to suspend all military operations from 8:30 PM IST on Saturday until the end of Sunday. The declaration was made during a Kremlin meeting with Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the Russian General Staff.
As reported by Reuters, Putin framed the move as a humanitarian gesture and expressed hope that Ukraine would also observe the truce. “Based on humanitarian considerations, the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period,” he said.
Despite the ceasefire, the Russian president directed military commanders to remain vigilant and be ready to respond to any provocations or violations by Ukrainian forces. “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,” Putin added.
The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts by US President Donald Trump to mediate peace between the two nations. Frustration is reportedly growing in Washington over the slow progress of negotiations. On Friday, both Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted that the US might withdraw from the talks if substantial results aren’t achieved soon.
Earlier this week, tensions escalated after two Russian ballistic missiles struck the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing 34 people and injuring 117 in what became the deadliest attack on Ukrainian soil this year.
Responding to the incident, Secretary Rubio offered condolences and emphasized that the tragedy underscored the urgency of ending the conflict. “This attack is a tragic reminder of why President Trump and his Administration are putting so much time and effort into trying to end this war,” Rubio said in a statement.
The missile strike came roughly a month after the US claimed it had secured agreements from both Russia and Ukraine on ceasefire arrangements, including one prohibiting attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. However, both parties have since accused each other of violating these agreements.