Russian President Vladimir Putin Has Declared A Surprise One-Day Truce In Its War On Ukraine For Easter
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian attacks were continuing but called on Russia to extend the ceasefire beyond Easter day on April 20.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has declared a surprise one-day truce in its war on Ukraine for Easter.
“Based on humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to midnight Monday, the Russian side announces an Easter ceasefire,” Putin said to the Russian military’s chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov in a televised video on Saturday, April 19.
Putin said he was ordering a stop to all military activities for the 30 hours, adding that he assumes Ukraine will follow its example.
"However, our troops should be ready to repel possible ceasefire violations and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions," he added, saying to Gerasimov that this was why he was asking him to be "extremely attentive and vigilant, to be ready for an immediate response in full.”
Putin also said that Ukraine's actions during the truce would demonstrate whether it was ready for a peaceful settlement.
In response to the announcement, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the move as "yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives, saying that Ukrainian forces had been fighting off Russian airstrikes just 45 minutes before the truce was meant to start, Reuters reported.
Zelenskyy later wrote on X that Ukraine's top commander had said that Russian attacks and Russian artillery fire were still continuing despite the truce, pointing out that Russia had rejected a proposal by the US for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine had accepted.
"If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia’s actions. Silence in response to silence, defensive strikes in response to attacks," he wrote.
Zelenskyy then called on Russia to extend the ceasefire beyond Easter day on April 20.
"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," he wrote.
In March, Putin agreed for Russia to stop attacking on energy infrastructure targets in Ukraine for 30 days after speaking to US President Donald Trump on a call but did not accept the 30-day ceasefire proposal.
Putin's one-day truce announcement comes just a day after Trump said that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are "coming to a head".
Putin’s ceasefire announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are “coming to a head” but the US was willing to move on "very shortly" if a solution could not to be found.
Sofia Hou
Sofia Hou
