Putin Announces 32-Hour Ceasefire During Orthodox Easter in Ukraine

Ceasefire Declaration by Russia

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine coinciding with the Orthodox Easter weekend. This announcement followed a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, urging a temporary halt to hostilities for the holiday.

According to an order released by the Kremlin, Russian forces are instructed to observe the ceasefire from 4 PM local time on Saturday until the evening of Sunday. Zelensky had proposed earlier in the week that both sides refrain from targeting each other's energy infrastructure during the holiday period, a suggestion he conveyed through the United States, which is mediating between Russia and Ukraine. This year marks the fifth year of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

As of now, there has been no immediate response from Ukraine regarding Putin's announcement. Last Easter, Putin unilaterally declared a 30-hour ceasefire, but both sides accused each other of violations.

In the statement accompanying the ceasefire announcement, the Kremlin emphasized that "orders to halt hostilities have been issued across all borders during this period." It also noted that "soldiers must remain prepared to counter any potential provocations and aggressive actions from the enemy." The order expressed hope that the Ukrainian side would follow Russia's example.