Russia’s Putin Announces Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a short Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, citing humanitarian reasons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the gesture, calling it insincere amid ongoing drone attacks.
Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine – Quick Look
- Putin declares ceasefire from Saturday to Sunday midnight
- Truce announced as Russia claims gains in Kursk region
- Zelenskyy slams move as manipulative and dishonest
- Russia continues drone strikes during ceasefire period
- Kremlin warns troops to prepare for possible provocations
- Trump says Russia-Ukraine talks are ‘coming to a head’
- Rubio threatens U.S. withdrawal from stalled negotiations
- Ukrainian air force reports drone intercepts and fire damage
Deep Look: Putin Declares Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine, Zelenskyy Rejects Gesture
MOSCOW/KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine over the Orthodox Easter weekend, calling for a halt in hostilities for humanitarian reasons. The Kremlin stated the ceasefire would begin at 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday and end at midnight Sunday, spanning the most sacred holiday in Orthodox Christianity.
The declaration came during a televised meeting between Putin and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. “We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example,” Putin said, while cautioning troops to remain ready to repel any “provocations.”
The announcement was met with immediate skepticism from Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the move as disingenuous. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he criticized the Kremlin’s intentions:
“Air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine. Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.”
Ceasefire Amid Continuing Conflict
Putin’s announcement comes as Russian forces report progress in retaking parts of the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops launched a surprise incursion last year. On Saturday, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces had seized the village of Oleshnya and were continuing intense fighting in Gornal, just south of the village.
Russian state agency TASS cited security officials saying Ukrainian forces had not yet been completely expelled from the Kursk region. The Associated Press has not independently verified these claims, and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the developments.
Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, reported intercepting 33 of 87 drones and decoys launched by Russia overnight, with another 36 reportedly neutralized by electronic jamming. The drones targeted agricultural areas in Odesa and caused fires in the Sumy region, though no casualties were reported.
U.S. Response and Diplomatic Tensions
“I think we have a really good chance of getting it done,” Trump said on Friday, adding that both sides must show “enthusiasm to want to end it.”
However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that if no progress is made in the near future, the U.S. may “move on” from trying to broker a peace deal. His remarks underscored growing frustration within the Trump administration over stalled talks.
This is not the first time the Kremlin has declared a ceasefire during a religious holiday. In January 2023, Putin called for a 36-hour ceasefire over Orthodox Christmas, which Ukraine dismissed as a ploy to regroup forces.
A Pattern of Distrust
This Easter ceasefire appears to follow a similar pattern. Zelenskyy’s response points to a continued lack of trust in Moscow’s intentions, especially as drone attacks persist during the declared truce.
With fighting intensifying in border regions and diplomatic solutions still elusive, the temporary pause may do little to change the trajectory of a war that has entered its third year with no clear end in sight.
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