Russia and Ukraine have agreed to observe a temporary ceasefire during the Orthodox Easter celebrations, with both sides announcing a rare 32-hour pause in hostilities.
The conflict, now in its fourth year, has previously seen brief and limited truces, often followed by mutual accusations of violations between Moscow and Kyiv.
Efforts to reach a broader peace agreement have slowed, partly due to shifting global attention toward the Middle East conflict. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that Kyiv had proposed an Easter truce through the United States.
In a statement released late Thursday, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a ceasefire “in connection with the approaching Orthodox feast of Easter.”
“a ceasefire is declared from 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on April 11 until the end of the day on 12 April 2026”
The Kremlin’s announcement did not reference Ukraine’s earlier proposal.
Responding shortly after, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s position, stating that “Ukraine has repeatedly stated that we are prepared to take reciprocal measures. We proposed a ceasefire this year during the Easter holidays and will act accordingly.”
“People need an Easter free from threats and real progress toward peace, and Russia has a chance to avoid returning to hostilities after Easter,” he added.
According to the Kremlin, Putin has directed Russia’s General Staff to halt combat operations across all fronts during the specified period, while maintaining readiness to respond to any provocations.
“We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation.”
The war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, making it Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
In recent years, front-line fighting has largely stabilised, with Russia making gradual territorial gains at significant cost.
However, Ukraine has recently regained some ground in the southeast, while Russian advances have slowed since late 2025, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts attribute this slowdown to multiple factors, including restrictions on Russia’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system and its own attempts to block the Telegram messaging platform.
Both technologies have played key roles in battlefield communication, particularly in coordinating drone operations that now dominate the conflict.
Despite these developments, Ukraine continues to face pressure in the Donetsk region, particularly around the strategic cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the ISW noted.
Russia is reportedly seeking Ukraine’s withdrawal from these areas without resistance as part of any future peace agreement.
In recent days, Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, targeting oil-exporting ports amid rising global prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Multiple rounds of US-led negotiations have failed to produce a breakthrough, with Washington’s focus now shifting toward Iran.
Peace talks remain deadlocked, as Moscow continues to demand territorial and political concessions that Zelensky has rejected, describing them as equivalent to surrender.
Currently, Russia controls just over 19 percent of Ukrainian territory, most of which was seized during the early stages of the war.
