International: In a move described as a symbolic gesture, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire on the occasion of Easter, halting military operations against Ukraine from 18:00 hours Moscow time until midnight on April 20. The announcement came during a meeting with Chief of the General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, who briefed Putin on the situation in the Kursk region, claiming most of the territory had been “liberated” except for two border pockets.
The region had seen renewed fighting since August 2024 after being partially occupied during a Russian incursion, and the ceasefire was reportedly aimed at marking the Orthodox Christian holiday with a temporary halt in hostilities. Putin also appealed to Kyiv to reciprocate the ceasefire in the spirit of Easter.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the gesture, accusing Moscow of violating its own ceasefire terms. Taking to social media, Zelenskyy said that while Russia aimed to create the impression of peace, its forces continued attempts to inflict frontline losses. “In general, as of Easter morning, we can say that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine,” he wrote.
Putin’s declaration came just hours before attending an Orthodox Easter service on Saturday night, where he reiterated his order for Russian forces to cease all military activity along the front lines. The ceasefire, limited to one day, adds a new layer of complexity to the three-year-long war, which continues to see sporadic escalations despite repeated calls from the international community for a peaceful resolution.
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