Ukraine & Russia Agree to Easter Ceasefire

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a 32-hour ceasefire over Orthodox Easter weekend, following calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The truce is set to begin on Saturday afternoon and last until the end of Sunday.

According to The Guardian, Zelenskyy proposed the ceasefire through the United States, which has been mediating talks between Moscow and Kyiv as Russia's invasion stretches into its fifth year. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the ceasefire, ordering Russian forces to observe it in all directions while remaining prepared for any provocations.

The Kremlin attempted to portray the initiative as its own, stating that orders have been issued to cease hostilities but also emphasizing readiness to counter any aggressive actions. BBC noted that this move by Putin came after repeated calls from Zelenskyy were initially ignored by the Kremlin. The Ukrainian president responded positively on X, stating that Ukraine was ready for symmetrical steps and expressing hope for a lasting peace.

The ceasefire comes amid ongoing hostilities along the roughly 1,250-kilometer front line in eastern Ukraine, where both sides have accused each other of violating previous truces. Previous attempts at ceasefires, including an 'energy truce' declared earlier this year and a unilateral halt to fighting last May, have had limited success.

Despite the agreement, skepticism remains about whether the truce will hold. The Guardian reported that Russia has left itself an opening for continuing armed action if it perceives any provocations. The ceasefire also comes as Ukraine has intensified its drone attacks on Russian energy exports, targeting key infrastructure.