Putin declares Easter truce in Ukraine conflict, as Zelenskyy accuses Russia of ongoing aggression
Russia has declared a unilateral Easter truce amidst increasing U.S. pressure to make progress in peace talks with Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire for Easter in Ukraine, instructing Russian forces to cease combat operations from 6 p.m. Moscow time until midnight on Sunday, as per the Kremlin.
“For humanitarian reasons, Russia is declaring an Easter truce,” Putin stated during a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov at the Kremlin, according to a translated statement on the Kremlin’s official Telegram channel on April 19. He emphasized that Russian troops should be prepared to defend against any potential violations by Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the announcement as insincere, pointing to ongoing Russian attacks. He mentioned on social media that Russian attack drones were detected in their airspace at 17:15 and highlighted Ukrainian forces’ presence in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions. “Drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true stance on Easter and human life,” he expressed.
This development occurs as the United States persistently works to facilitate a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, with signs of impatience growing in Washington.
President Donald Trump indicated that if there is no progress within days, he would halt efforts to reach a settlement.
This story is evolving. Stay tuned for updates.
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