Putin declares temporary ‘Easter truce’ in UkraineThere has been no response yet from Ukrainian officials.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an “Easter truce” in the war in Ukraine on Saturday, saying that the Russian side will cease military action from 6 p.m. local Saturday night until midnight April 21.
Putin said he assumes that “the Ukrainian side will follow our example,” according to a statement on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel. But he also says Russia will respond to “violations of the truce and provocations” by Ukraine, the statement said.
In a statement Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not immediately say whether or not Ukraine would agree to the truce, but called the proposal “yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives.”
In a statement later Saturday, several hours after the truce was to have gone into effect, Zelenskyy said attacks continued in areas inside Russia where Ukrainian troops are fighting, and that artillery could still be heard in some areas of the frontline. However, he also noted “in some areas, the situation has become quieter.”
In the statement, just before midnight local time, Zelenskyy continued to push for a 30-day ceasefire proposal previously turned down by Russia.
“The moment Putin actually ordered a reduction in the intensity and brutality of attacks, fighting and killings decreased,” Zelenskyy said. “The sole cause of this war and of its prolongation lies in Russia.”
In a previous statement, Zelenskyy said: “If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20,” Zelenskyy said. “That is what will reveal Russia’s true intentions — because 30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance.”
The proposed truce comes as U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, continued holding talks in Paris this week to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Rubio said the talks were “productive” but asserted that the U.S. was willing to move on from the negotiations if they didn’t yield results.
“We need to figure out here, now within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if it’s not, then I think we’re just going to move on,” Rubio said on the tarmac as he left France early Friday morning.
Later, at the White House, President Donald Trump echoed Rubio’s assertion — saying that the U.S. would make a determination “very shortly.”
In the wake of Rubio’s public comments, Moscow signaled it was in no hurry to strike a deal.
These developments also come as one potential indicator of progress — a 30-day ceasefire intended to pause strikes on energy infrastructure targets—has expired, with no word from Putin on whether Moscow will restart attacks on those targets.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of repeatedly violating the agreement, which was brokered by the Trump administration last month.
