Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire for Easter in Ukraine, as reported by the Kremlin on Saturday. This comes amid the exchange of hundreds of prisoners of war between Moscow and Kyiv, facilitated by mediation from the United Arab Emirates.
“Due to humanitarian reasons, Russia is instituting an Easter ceasefire from 6:00 p.m. [Moscow time] today until midnight Sunday into Monday. I am directing that all combat operations be suspended during this timeframe,” Putin stated during a televised meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
He added, “Nevertheless, our forces must remain prepared to respond to any violations of the ceasefire or provocations from the enemy, as well as to any aggressive actions.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially rejected the proposed Russian ceasefire, noting that Russian forces were conducting air strikes on Ukraine just as the announced halt in hostilities was set to commence.
“In regard to yet another attempt by Putin to manipulate human lives — air raid alerts are currently being issued across Ukraine. At 5:15 p.m., Russian attack drones were identified in our airspace,” Zelensky posted on X. “The presence of Shahed drones in our skies illustrates Putin’s genuine attitude towards Easter and human life.”
However, later on Saturday, Zelensky indicated that he might support Russia’s temporary ceasefire if it could lead to a broader, unconditional truce between the two nations, similar to a proposal made by the United States in March.
“If a comprehensive ceasefire truly materializes, Ukraine is willing to propose extending it beyond the Easter date of April 20. This will reveal Russia’s true intentions,” Zelensky remarked. “Because 30 hours may generate headlines, but they are insufficient for real confidence-building measures. Thirty days could provide a genuine opportunity for peace.”
Currently, as per the Commander-in-Chief’s updates, Russian offensive operations are ongoing across several frontline areas, and artillery fire from Russian forces has not diminished, he added.
The governor of Kherson in southern Ukraine reported multiple Russian drone strikes occurring shortly after the Easter ceasefire was supposed to take effect on Saturday evening, stating, “Unfortunately, we do not observe any lull. Shelling persists, and civilians are once again under fire.”
A Russian diplomat, speaking to The Moscow Times on condition of anonymity, suggested that the Kremlin’s announcement of a truce likely aimed to achieve several objectives beyond what Putin characterized as a “humanitarian” initiative.
“Our president is effectively addressing multiple issues at once,” the diplomat noted. “This serves as a signal to Trump, who anticipates a swift move towards halting the war. It also aims to demonstrate our commitment to Christian values.”
“Additionally, it seeks to portray President Zelensky as an unreliable negotiating partner in the eyes of the American president,” the diplomat continued.
Shortly after the announcement of the Easter ceasefire, Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed receipt of Putin’s directive and indicated that the truce would be “observed by the Russian Joint Group of Forces, contingent upon reciprocal action from the Kyiv regime.”
The Defense Ministry reported the exchange of 246 Ukrainian prisoners of war for an equal number of captured Russian soldiers. “As an act of goodwill,” an extra 31 wounded Ukrainian POWs were exchanged for 15 wounded Russian soldiers, stated the ministry.
Zelensky later confirmed the prisoner swap, stating that 277 Ukrainian servicemen had been released. He shared photos and a video of the soldiers upon their return from captivity.
During the televised meeting at the Kremlin, Gerasimov informed Putin that all six Russian military groupings are presently advancing along 11 fronts in eastern and southern Ukraine.
He claimed that 99.5% of the Kursk region has been “liberated,” adding that Russian forces are continuing their counteroffensive operations to clear the border area of Ukrainian troops.
“The primary section of the [Kursk] region’s territory, where the invasion began, has now been liberated. This encompasses 1,260 square kilometers,” Gerasimov stated.
Earlier, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its forces had captured the second-to-last village in the Kursk region still under Ukrainian control, occurring just weeks after Moscow executed a surprise assault on the critical border town of Sudzha.
While not directly addressing the Russian military’s claims, Zelensky mentioned that his top commander informed him that Ukrainian forces still maintain control over certain areas in the border region.
“Today, our forces continued their operations within the Kursk region and are holding their positions. In the Belgorod region, our troops have advanced and expanded our area of control,” he wrote on X.
The announcement of Russia’s Easter ceasefire and the prisoner exchange came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that he might withdraw from negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine unless Moscow and Kyiv demonstrated a willingness to make headway towards peace in the upcoming days.
On Friday, the Kremlin indicated that a 30-day halt in strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure — the only significant concession Trump has thus far managed to secure from Moscow — had lapsed.
