Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire effective from 4 PM on April 11 until the end of April 12. This announcement was made public through a statement on the Kremlin’s official website.
Putin instructed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to halt military operations across all fronts. However, he emphasized that Russian forces must remain prepared to respond to any provocations or aggressive actions from the opposing side.
The Kremlin leader expressed hope that Ukraine would follow Russia’s example regarding the ceasefire. This statement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s remarks on March 30, where he indicated Ukraine’s willingness to establish a ceasefire during the Easter celebrations.
On March 31, Zelensky announced that Ukraine had proposed a ceasefire to Russia for the Easter period and was awaiting a response. He also mentioned that Kyiv anticipated support for this initiative from the United States.
In response, the Kremlin dismissed Zelensky’s comments about an Easter ceasefire as lacking a clear proposal. Officials in Moscow claimed that they seek lasting peace rather than a temporary halt to hostilities.
President Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire coinciding with the Easter holiday, while tensions with Ukraine continue. The Kremlin's response to Ukraine's earlier ceasefire proposal reflects ongoing complexities in the conflict.