Russia will halt combat from Saturday evening to Sunday midnight, President Vladimir Putin announced, calling it a humanitarian gesture.
In a rare move, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a temporary Easter truce in Ukraine, pausing all combat operations from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday until midnight on Sunday.
The announcement, made during a televised meeting with Russia’s top military commander Valery Gerasimov, is framed as a humanitarian initiative.
Putin said the pause would test Kyiv’s willingness to seek peace. However, Ukrainians responded with suspicion, as air raid sirens blared across Kyiv minutes after the truce was declared.
Ukraine has accused Russia of violating numerous ceasefires since its 2014 annexation of Crimea. Unlike Ukraine, Moscow has refused to adopt the 30-day ceasefire plan previously suggested by the Trump administration.
Putin also warned that any Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure would prompt an “immediate response,” accusing Kyiv of breaking such agreements “100 times.”
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports suggest the Trump administration may consider recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, part of a broader plan to broker peace. Such a move would contradict international law and the UN charter, triggering likely backlash from European allies and Ukrainian leaders.
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As negotiations continue in London, Washington appears to be pushing for a deal that could leave Crimea and occupied southern regions under Russian control. Reports also hint at the possible lifting of sanctions on Moscow in exchange for compliance.
In a Friday statement, Trump warned both parties that the U.S. may “move on” if peace remains elusive, blaming either side deemed obstructive.
Putin, speaking with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, reiterated Russia’s hardline demands—including Ukraine’s demilitarisation, non-NATO status, and President Zelenskyy’s removal.
Zelenskyy rebuffed any proposals involving Ukrainian land, declaring they “belong to our people and future generations.”
Despite the announced truce, Russian attacks have intensified. A missile strike in Kharkiv killed two people on Friday, following a deadly Palm Sunday attack in Sumy that claimed 35 lives.
Crimea, now a key Russian military hub, has been central to both past and present offensives. Ukraine has targeted bases there with missiles and drones, including strikes on Sevastopol and the strategic Kerch Bridge.
U.S. officials maintain that no peace deal is possible unless Russia halts hostilities and accepts terms that include Ukrainian security guarantees.
Theguardian.com
