PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin on Saturday announced a unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 8:30 pm IST on Saturday until the end of Sunday. The Russian president framed the move as a humanitarian gesture tied to the Easter holiday, expressing hope that Ukraine would reciprocate the truce.
During a televised meeting at the Kremlin, Putin instructed Russia’s chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov, to ensure that Russian troops remain on high alert to respond to any potential breaches of the ceasefire by Ukrainian forces.
“Based on humanitarian considerations, the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period,” Putin said. He added, “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, any aggressive actions.”
This temporary truce comes amid ongoing international efforts to mediate peace between the two countries. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has been involved in pushing for a negotiated ceasefire.
However, both American leaders have reportedly grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of tangible progress in the peace talks. On Friday, they hinted that the U.S. might withdraw from mediation efforts if results are not achieved soon.
The call for a ceasefire follows a devastating missile attack earlier in the week, when two Russian ballistic missiles struck the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing 34 people and injuring 117 in what became the deadliest attack in Ukraine so far this year.
In response, Secretary of State Rubio issued a statement conveying condolences to the victims’ families and described the strike as a grim reminder of the urgent need to end the war. “This tragedy underscores why President Trump and his administration are dedicating significant diplomatic energy to bring this conflict to an end,” Rubio said.
Last month, the U.S. announced it had brokered two preliminary ceasefire agreements with Russia and Ukraine, including one focused on protecting critical energy infrastructure. However, both sides have since accused each other of violating the agreements, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the moratoriums.
As the Easter truce begins, the world watches closely to see whether this temporary pause in fighting could offer a glimpse of hope for more lasting peace in the war-torn region.
