Easter brought a momentary shift in the ongoing Ukraine conflict as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire. The Easter truce, effective from Saturday evening until midnight Sunday, is aimed at honoring the Christian holiday with a brief pause in hostilities.
The announcement came amid efforts by former U.S. President Donald Trump to mediate a truce between Moscow and Kyiv. Despite his involvement, Trump has not been able to secure meaningful concessions from the Kremlin.
Putin made the announcement during a televised meeting with Russian chief of staff Valery Gerasimov. “Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce,” he stated.
Putin described the ceasefire as “humanitarian,” emphasizing the spiritual importance of Easter for many. He ordered all Russian military operations to pause during the stated period.
However, he warned that Russian troops should remain vigilant. “Our forces must be prepared to respond to violations or provocations by the enemy,” he said.
Putin also accused Ukraine of breaching agreements related to strikes on energy infrastructure more than 100 times. On Friday, Russia ended its informal moratorium on targeting Ukrainian energy facilities, blaming Kyiv for repeated violations of a non-binding agreement.
The truce is being presented by Russia as a test of Ukraine’s commitment to peace. “This pause will reveal Kyiv’s sincerity in honoring agreements and engaging in peace negotiations,” Putin added.
Previous proposals for ceasefires during Easter in 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in 2023 were not upheld, as both parties failed to come to terms.
Whether this Easter ceasefire holds or falters remains uncertain. The global community is watching closely, hopeful that this symbolic gesture may open the door to lasting peace, or at least a meaningful reduction in violence — even if only for a single day.