Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire in Ukraine in observance of the Christian holiday, Easter Sunday.
According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will begin on Saturday, April 19, and will last until midnight on Monday, April 21. During this period, Russian forces will suspend all forms of military attacks in Ukraine.
The Kremlin expressed hope that Ukraine would also agree to the ceasefire and refrain from launching any attacks during the Easter celebrations.
The BBC reported that President Putin confirmed he had instructed his military to halt all offensive operations during the ceasefire. However, he warned that Russian troops would be ready to respond if Ukraine provoked or violated the truce.
In an official statement, Putin said, “From a humanitarian perspective, Russia is declaring an Easter ceasefire starting at 6 PM on Saturday, lasting through Sunday and Monday. I have ordered all military operations to be suspended during this time.”
He added, “We hope the Ukrainians will accept our initiative. At the same time, our forces must remain prepared to respond to any violations or provocations.”
The war began on February 24, 2022, when Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces initially aimed to capture Kyiv and overthrow President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government but failed. Subsequently, Russia focused on capturing the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, most of which are now under Russian control after more than three years of conflict.