New Delhi, April 19: Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, citing the Easter holiday as the reason for the brief suspension of hostilities. According to Russian media reports, the ceasefire began at 20:30 IST on Saturday (18:00 Moscow time/16:00 BST) and will last until 02:30 IST on April 22 (midnight Moscow time on April 21/22:00 BST).
This move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington would no longer engage in mediating between Moscow and Kyiv if either side continued to obstruct peace efforts. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump indicated that while a breakthrough might not happen immediately, he hoped for a swift resolution.
The frustration in Washington was echoed earlier in the week by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who suggested that the U.S. could walk away from mediation if no substantial progress was made in the coming days. Russian President Putin, in his announcement, termed the action an “Easter truce,” directing Russian forces to halt military activities during the designated period. “All military actions are to cease,” Putin stated in a video released by Russian media, but he added that the Russian military would remain on high alert in case of any violations or provocations.
The Russian Ministry of Defence later confirmed the truce order, describing the break in hostilities as a humanitarian effort. They emphasized, however, that Russian forces would be prepared to counter any aggressive actions from the enemy during this time.
It remains unclear whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to the terms of the ceasefire, although Kyiv previously showed openness to a U.S.-brokered 30-day ceasefire. Secretary Rubio stated last month, “The ball is now in their [Russia’s] court.” This latest development comes more than three years into the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been marked by devastating casualties and widespread displacement, despite various diplomatic efforts.
As the Easter truce takes effect, the world’s attention will be on whether both sides can uphold the ceasefire and whether the U.S. will remain committed to brokering a longer-term peace agreement.
