KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an Orthodox Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, following repeated calls by Kyiv for a pause in hostilities over the holiday period.
The ceasefire would start at 4 p.m. on Saturday and last until the end of Sunday, the day Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter, the Kremlin said in a statement late Thursday.
“The commander in chief ordered a stop to military actions in all directions for that period of time,” the Kremlin said, adding that it has expectations the Ukrainian side would follow the example of Russia. “At the same time, the troops have to be ready to prevent possible provocations from the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions,” it said.
Ukraine has called for an Easter ceasefire for weeks, and even proposed an energy ceasefire, offering to stop striking Russia’s oil depots if Moscow stops attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid.
“Ukraine has repeatedly stated that we are ready for mirror steps. We proposed a ceasefire this year for the duration of the Easter holidays and will act accordingly,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
“People need an Easter without threats and real progress toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes even after Easter,” Zelenskyy added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also suggested that an Easter truce could be a good start toward a lasting ceasefire. “Our position is that there is no need to resume strikes at all. A lasting ceasefire would pave the way for genuine diplomacy to end this war that Russia will never win and must finally stop,” Sybiha said on X on Friday.
