Putin announces 32-hour Easter ceasefire in Ukraine war
Vladimir Putin has declared a 32-hour ceasefire in the war with Ukraine to coincide with the Orthodox Easter holiday, in a move that follows a similar call for a temporary pause in fighting by Ukrainian leadership.
The Kremlin said the ceasefire will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday (9 a.m. ET) and continue until the end of Sunday, instructing Russian forces to halt combat operations across all fronts during that period.
However, the statement also warned that troops must remain ready to respond to any “provocations” or hostile actions, signalling continued caution despite the temporary pause.
Moscow added that it expects Ukraine to follow the same course, though no formal agreement between both sides has been confirmed.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier proposed a ceasefire during the Easter period, stating that Ukraine had repeatedly called for temporary halts in fighting to allow civilians a brief respite from the ongoing conflict.
Writing on X, Zelenskyy said a pause in hostilities would provide “an Easter free from threats” and suggested it could open the door to broader steps toward peace.
The war, now in its fifth year, continues despite repeated international mediation efforts led in part by the United States. Diplomatic talks between Moscow and Kyiv have so far failed to produce a lasting ceasefire.
Previous temporary truces have also broken down quickly. A similar Easter ceasefire declared by Russia last year was widely accused by both sides of being violated.
Tensions remain high across occupied territories, where Russia controls significant areas of eastern and southern Ukraine, including parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, as well as Crimea.
Moscow has continued to insist on retaining control over annexed regions, while Ukraine maintains that any peace deal must restore its internationally recognised borders.
Despite the announcement, uncertainty remains over whether the ceasefire will hold or lead to any broader diplomatic progress.
