Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine during the Orthodox Easter period, the Kremlin said on Thursday, in a rare pause amid the prolonged conflict.
The truce will be in effect from 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on April 11 until the end of April 12, 2026, “in connection with the approaching Orthodox feast of Easter,” according to the Kremlin statement.
Russian military command has been instructed to halt combat operations across all fronts during this period, while remaining prepared to respond to any “possible provocations.” Moscow also expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate the ceasefire.
The announcement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier proposed a holiday truce through the United States, even as broader peace negotiations remain stalled.
Multiple rounds of US-mediated talks have failed to yield a breakthrough, with diplomatic momentum slowing further as Washington’s focus shifts toward tensions in the Middle East.
Key sticking points persist, with Russia demanding territorial and political concessions that Ukraine has rejected, calling them unacceptable.
The war, now in its fourth year, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, making it Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
