Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire with Ukraine coinciding with the Easter holiday, set to commence at 4:00 PM on April 11 and lasting until the end of April 12, 2026.
The Kremlin’s announcement emphasized the timing of the ceasefire in relation to the Orthodox Easter celebrations. Putin has instructed Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to halt military operations across all fronts during this period.
According to the Kremlin, Moscow anticipates that Ukraine will reciprocate this gesture. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously expressed his willingness to observe a ceasefire for the Easter celebrations, stating that a temporary halt in hostilities would not significantly affect Russia’s military positioning.
In response to Zelensky’s comments from late March regarding a potential ceasefire, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested that there had been no formal initiative from Ukraine. As of April 9, Peskov indicated that Putin had not yet made a final decision regarding the Easter ceasefire.
The situation remains fluid as both sides navigate the implications of this announcement.
Vladimir Putin has announced a ceasefire with Ukraine for Easter, starting April 11, while the Kremlin expects Ukraine to follow suit. The announcement follows previous statements from Ukrainian President Zelensky regarding a willingness for a temporary halt in hostilities.