Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for the Orthodox Easter weekend, in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for a pause in hostilities during the holiday. The ceasefire, outlined in a decree from the Kremlin, will see Russian forces observing a halt in operations from 4 p.m. on Saturday until the end of Sunday.
Zelenskyy had earlier suggested that both sides refrain from targeting each other’s energy infrastructure over the Easter period. He communicated this proposal through the United States, which has been facilitating discussions between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine enters its fifth year.
Following Putin’s announcement, Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s readiness for reciprocal actions, stating that the country had proposed a ceasefire for the Easter holidays and would adhere to it. He stressed the importance of providing people with a peaceful Easter free from threats and expressed hope that Russia would also refrain from resuming attacks after the holiday.
Despite previous ceasefire attempts having minimal impact, with accusations of violations from both sides, Putin has once again taken the step to declare a temporary halt in hostilities. The Kremlin’s statement regarding the ceasefire indicated readiness to counter any potential enemy provocations during the ceasefire period. Russia has rejected previous calls for a 30-day unconditional truce, opting for shorter, unilateral ceasefires while pushing for a comprehensive settlement.
As diplomatic efforts led by the U.S. have struggled to make headway on critical issues, attention has shifted to other global conflicts, leaving the Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in ongoing battle along the extensive front line.