Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed Kyiv’s acceptance of it. The ceasefire will be in place from 4 pm (Moscow time) on April 11 until the end of April 12, as reported by the Russian news agency Tass. During this period, Russian soldiers are instructed to halt combat operations in all directions but remain prepared to counter any potential enemy attacks. Minister of Defence Andrey Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have been tasked with ensuring the cessation of combat activities.
Zelensky expressed Ukraine’s readiness to reciprocate the ceasefire proposal during the Easter Holidays. He emphasized the importance of providing people with a peaceful Easter devoid of threats and moving towards genuine peace. The ceasefire initiative comes amidst stalled negotiations to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s stance that for Russia to halt military actions in Ukraine, Kyiv must withdraw from Donbass. Peskov dismissed claims of setting deadlines for Ukrainian troop withdrawal, emphasizing the need for immediate action without specifying a timeline.
