Ukraine: Russia’s Putin Declares Easter Ceasefire

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary halt to military operations in Ukraine during the Orthodox Easter holiday, according to the Kremlin. The pause is scheduled to begin at 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on April 11 and last until the conclusion of Easter on April 12, 2026. This move follows a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a similar ceasefire earlier in the week.

The Kremlin stated that troops were directed to “cease combat activities in all directions” during the specified timeframe, while remaining prepared to “respond to any potential enemy actions.” This marks the second time Putin has proposed a temporary truce during the Easter season, though past agreements were often short-lived and marred by accusations of breaches from both sides.

Historical Context of Ceasefire Tensions

Putin’s previous Easter ceasefire in 2023 also faced challenges, with Ukrainian forces and Russian troops blaming each other for violations. Despite the promise of a pause, the conflict continued to escalate in other areas. Now, as Orthodox Christians prepare to observe the holiday, the latest declaration aims to create a moment of relative calm.

“A ceasefire is declared from 16:00 (1300 GMT) on April 11 until the end of the day on April 12, 2026,” the Kremlin said in a statement, linking the initiative to “the approaching Orthodox feast of Easter.”

Kyiv has not yet responded to the ceasefire announcement, leaving its stance unclear. Moscow, however, has remained steadfast in its demand for a permanent resolution to the war, rejecting extended truces proposed by Ukraine and the United States. The conflict, now in its fifth year, has seen little progress toward peace, with Russia seeking territorial gains and political concessions that Zelenskyy has refused.

U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier attempted to broker peace, but recent focus has shifted toward the country’s own military actions in Iran. As tensions persist, the Easter ceasefire remains a symbolic gesture amid ongoing hostilities.