Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary halt to fighting in Ukraine to mark Orthodox Easter, announcing a 32-hour ceasefire beginning late Saturday.
The Kremlin said the pause will run from 4 pm Moscow time (1300 GMT) until midnight on Sunday, with orders issued to suspend military operations across all fronts.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed Kyiv would observe the truce, noting that his government had already proposed such a measure.
Writing on Telegram, he said: “People need an Easter without threats and a real move towards peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to attacks even after Easter.”
The announcement mirrors a similar ceasefire declared last year, which both sides accused each other of breaching.
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov instructed Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to enforce the pause, while warning troops to remain alert to “possible provocations.”
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media the decision was not coordinated with Washington and bore no link to wider settlement talks.
Meanwhile, Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev is in the United States (US) for discussions with officials from President Donald Trump’s administration on peace efforts and economic cooperation.
Orthodox Easter, celebrated by both Russians and Ukrainians, falls on 12 April this year.
Zelenskiy has repeatedly urged Moscow to halt attacks during religious holidays, including calls to stop targeting energy infrastructure.
Russia had previously dismissed such proposals, insisting on pursuing longer-term negotiations.
The ceasefire comes as international efforts to broker peace remain stalled, with US-led talks paused amid escalating tensions in Iran and the wider Middle East.