Putin of Russia announces a unilateral ceasefire for Easter in Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 246 prisoners of war through an agreement facilitated by the UAE
Russian forces have been instructed to remain vigilant despite the ceasefire in place.
The US warns of a potential withdrawal from mediation efforts if no advancements are made.
Moscow asserts that its troops will comply with the ceasefire as long as it is respected by both sides.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral ceasefire for Easter in Ukraine, instructing his troops to halt combat operations starting at 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday and continuing until the end of Sunday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukrainian air defense forces were successfully fending off an attack by Russian drones on Saturday, highlighting this as a reflection of Moscow’s true attitude toward Easter and the well-being of individuals.
Due to humanitarian reasons, the Russian side has declared an Easter truce. I urge a halt to all military operations during this time,” Putin stated during a meeting with his military chief, Valery Gerasimov, at the Kremlin.
We expect Ukraine to emulate our approach. Meanwhile, our forces must remain ready to counter any potential breaches of the ceasefire and provocations from the enemy or any aggressive actions,” added Putin.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed that the United States would withdraw from attempts to facilitate a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement unless there are evident signs of progress in the near future.
The extensive conflict erupted when Putin commanded thousands of Russian troops to cross into Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Putin has repeatedly expressed his desire for an end to the conflict, insisting that Ukraine officially renounce its hopes of joining NATO and pull back its forces from the four regions in Ukraine that Moscow claims.
Kyiv has largely dismissed these conditions, viewing them as equivalent to capitulation. On Saturday, Putin informed Gerasimov that Russia appreciates the efforts of the US, China, and BRICS nations to seek a peaceful resolution to the situation.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it has issued ceasefire instructions to all group commanders involved in the “special military operation,” the Kremlin’s designation for the war. According to the ministry, Russian forces will comply with the ceasefire as long as it is “mutually respected” by Ukraine.
In a separate update, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on Saturday, with each side transferring 246 prisoners, facilitated by the UAE.
The released Russian prisoners are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving medical and psychological care, as stated by the ministry.
