Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, instructing Russian forces to stop hostilities from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until the end of Sunday.
Putin stated that he hopes Ukraine would reciprocate the gesture, but also directed Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, to ensure Russian troops remain prepared to respond to any violations of the ceasefire by Ukrainian forces.
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“Based on humanitarian considerations … the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period,” Putin told his military chief, Valery Gerasimov, at a meeting in the Kremlin.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, forces have taken control of the village of Oleshnya, located along the border with Ukraine.
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Russia War with Ukraine
“We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions,” Putin added.
However, in a statement, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said that its troops will observe the ceasefire provided it is “mutually respected” by Ukraine.
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According to reports by AFP and AP, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 87 explosive drones and decoys in a wave of overnight attacks into Saturday. Of these, 33 were intercepted, while another 36 were lost.
Further, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, the attacks caused damage to farms in the Odesa region and sparked fires in the Sumy region, though the blazes were contained and no casualties were reported.
Also Read: US Issues Ultimatum to Ukraine on Ceasefire Talks
US Joins Talks with Ukraine Over CeaseFire
This comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that the U.S. government will soon have to assess whether a ceasefire in Ukraine remains an option.
In a statement on April 18, 2025, Rubio noted that the U.S. government has reached a point where it must decide whether peace talks are even feasible, which is why they are engaging both sides.
“I’m talking about a matter of days, not a matter of weeks – whether or not this is a war that can be ended. If it can, we’re prepared to do whatever we can to facilitate that and make sure that it happens, that it ends in a durable and just way,” he said.
Also Read: Tunisian Opposition Leaders Sentenced to 13 & 66 Years in Prison
US and Ukraine Peace Talks
US President Donald Trump pledged to bring an end to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, though recent talks between Washington and Moscow have stalled.
The peace-making process is set to continue in London next week, marking the beginning of a positive initiative involving European nations.
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire or peace agreement have so far been unsuccessful, with tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers losing their lives, and millions have been displaced.
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