Putin announces Easter ceasefire, calls on Ukraine to follow

Editor’s note: This is a developing story.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire on the Easter weekend, ordering a halt to all military action from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.

Putin announced the order during a meeting with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, on April 19.

Putin framed the decision as being guided by humanitarian concerns. “I order the suspension of all combat operations during this period,” he declared. “We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example,” Putin added.

The effectiveness of the ceasefire will “test Ukraine’s sincerity in pursuing peace talks,” according to Putin, who said that the real measure of Kyiv’s intentions will be revealed by its actions over the Easter period.

Ukraine has not yet responded.

Putin’s announcement comes after Washington signaled that it was ready to cease its mediation efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine if one of the sides “makes it difficult."

Russia has consistently rejected a U.S.-proposed 30-day complete ceasefire, which Ukraine supported. Moscow rejected the ceasefire unless it included concessions that would undermine Kyiv’s ability to defend itself, including a full halt to foreign military aid.

‘You’re fools’ — US may ‘take a pass’ on Ukraine-Russia talks if either side stalls, Trump says

“If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say: ‘you’re foolish, you’re fools, you’re horrible people,’ and we’re just going to take a pass. But hopefully we won’t have to do that,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova