Russia declares Orthodox Easter ceasefire, Ukraine open to “symmetrical” response
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to observe a temporary ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, with Vladimir Putin announcing that Russian forces will halt combat operations “in all directions” over the weekend.
The announcement from Moscow follows repeated appeals by Volodymyr Zelensky for a ceasefire, requests that had previously been dismissed by the Kremlin.
Putin stated that the truce would begin at 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday, April 11, and last through Easter Sunday. He also expressed expectations that Ukraine would reciprocate, while instructing Russian troops to remain alert to any “provocations” or hostile actions.
Although the move appears conciliatory, its timing and tone have been met with scepticism in Ukraine. Zelensky responded on X, saying Ukraine was prepared to take “mirror actions,” stressing the need for a peaceful Easter and meaningful progress toward ending the war. He added that Russia now has an opportunity to extend the pause beyond the holiday.
Earlier in the week, Zelensky revealed he had asked the United States to relay a proposal for a temporary holiday truce to Moscow as an initial step toward de-escalation.
A pause in hostilities would offer much-needed relief to troops along the extensive front lines in eastern Ukraine, where drone attacks remain constant. It would also provide civilians, accustomed to daily air raid sirens and ongoing missile and drone strikes, a brief reprieve.
Recent attacks highlight the ongoing danger. In Nikopol, a drone strike on a bus killed several people, while in Zhytomyr, near Kyiv, a woman died after a missile struck close to her home. Air raid sirens continued to sound in Kyiv even after the truce announcement.
Ukraine has also stepped up its own drone operations against Russian targets, particularly focusing on energy infrastructure, with Moscow claiming that some residential areas have been affected.
Despite the announced ceasefire, many Ukrainians remain doubtful it will hold. Earlier this year, Russia declared an “energy truce,” halting attacks on Ukraine’s power facilities during winter, but it was short-lived and followed by renewed strikes.
Similarly, a unilateral ceasefire declared by Russia last May to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany saw hundreds of reported violations by Ukrainian authorities.
Ukraine has consistently pushed for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire as a foundation for peace talks to end the invasion. However, Moscow insists that a broader agreement must come first, fueling concerns in Kyiv that Russia is not genuinely committed to ending the conflict.
Several rounds of negotiations have taken place, with the United States acting as a mediator, but progress has stalled after Donald Trump shifted his attention to the Middle East.
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