Putin declares Orthodox Easter ceasefire in Ukraine as Zelensky reiterates truce call
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire in the war with Ukraine to mark the Orthodox Easter holiday, ordering Russian forces to halt combat operations for a brief period during the religious celebration.
According to reports cited by CNN, the truce is expected to last about 32 hours, beginning on Saturday afternoon and continuing through Easter Sunday. The Kremlin said the pause in hostilities is intended to allow observance of the important Christian holiday, which is widely celebrated in both Russia and Ukraine.
In a statement, the Kremlin said the ceasefire would start at 4 p.m. local time on April 11 and continue until the end of April 12. Russian troops have been ordered to stop combat activities across all front lines but remain prepared to respond if Ukrainian forces violate the truce.
“By the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, a ceasefire is declared in connection with the approaching Orthodox feast of Easter,” the Kremlin statement said, adding that Moscow expects Ukraine to reciprocate the move.
The announcement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously proposed a similar pause in fighting during the Easter period. Earlier in the week, Zelensky suggested that both sides halt attacks, particularly those targeting energy infrastructure, as a gesture to reduce violence during the religious holiday.
In a post on X, Zelensky said Ukraine had repeatedly signalled its readiness to take “symmetrical steps” toward a holiday truce. He wrote that people deserved “an Easter without threats” and said Russia had an opportunity to demonstrate genuine progress toward peace if it refrained from further attacks.
The Ukrainian leader has indicated Kyiv would mirror Russia’s actions during the ceasefire period, suggesting that Ukraine’s response would depend on whether Moscow fully observes the halt in hostilities.
Despite the announcement, scepticism remains over whether the truce will hold. Previous holiday ceasefires during the more than four-year conflict have often collapsed quickly, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
The war between Russia and Ukraine continues along a front line stretching roughly 1,250 kilometres, with sporadic diplomatic efforts yet to produce a lasting peace settlement.
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