Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter, raising cautious hopes for a brief pause in hostilities in the ongoing war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he has ordered Russian troops to cease fire “in all directions” beginning at 16:00 local time (14:00 BST) on Saturday, April 11, through Easter Sunday.
According to Moscow, the truce is intended as a humanitarian gesture, with Putin stating that he expects Ukraine to “follow the example” of Russia. He also instructed Russian forces to remain on alert to respond to any “possible enemy provocations” or “aggressive actions.”
The announcement follows repeated calls by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a ceasefire—appeals that had previously gone unanswered by the Kremlin.
In a response posted on X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky said Ukraine was “ready for symmetrical steps,” suggesting Kyiv would reciprocate if Russia fully adheres to the truce.
“People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace,” he wrote. “Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well.”
Earlier in the week, Zelensky revealed that he had asked the United States to relay a proposal for a holiday truce to Moscow as a first step toward broader peace efforts.
If observed, the temporary ceasefire could offer much-needed relief to both civilians and soldiers after months of intense fighting, particularly along the eastern frontline where drone warfare has intensified.
Across Ukraine, daily life has been punctuated by air raid sirens and missile strikes. Recent attacks have continued to inflict casualties, including a deadly drone strike on a bus in the southeastern city of Nikopol and a missile incident in Zhytomyr, west of the capital Kyiv.
Even after the truce announcement, air raid sirens reportedly sounded again in Kyiv, underscoring the fragile security situation.
Despite the proposed pause, fighting dynamics remain complex. Ukraine has stepped up drone strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure in recent weeks, while Moscow claims residential areas within its territory have also been hit.
Observers and Ukrainian officials remain sceptical about whether the truce will hold, citing previous ceasefire attempts that quickly collapsed.
Earlier this year, Russia announced an “energy truce,” pledging to halt strikes on Ukraine’s power infrastructure during winter. However, Kyiv accused Moscow of resuming attacks shortly after.
Similarly, a unilateral ceasefire declared by Russia in May last year to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany was reportedly marred by hundreds of violations, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Ukraine has consistently called for a comprehensive and sustained ceasefire as a foundation for peace negotiations. However, Russia has maintained that a broader agreement must be reached before halting hostilities—an approach Kyiv says undermines genuine efforts to end the war.
Several rounds of talks have been held with mediation from the United States, but progress has stalled in recent months amid shifting geopolitical priorities.
While the Easter truce offers a symbolic and potentially humanitarian pause, its success will depend on mutual compliance and restraint from both sides.
For many Ukrainians, however, the announcement is being met with caution rather than optimism, as the war continues with no clear resolution in sight
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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