Putin Declares Brief Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine, Skepticism Follows

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire for Easter in the ongoing war with Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. The truce is set to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday and last until midnight, making it a six-hour pause in a conflict that's been raging for three years and has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

"Guided by humanitarian considerations," Putin stated in a video, "the Russian side declares an Easter truce." He ordered all military actions to stop for that period, appearing alongside Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.

Yet, the ceasefire didn’t exactly inspire trust in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded swiftly, noting that air raid sirens were blaring across Ukraine even as Putin’s message went public. "As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives—at this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine," Zelenskyy posted, highlighting that Russian attack drones were spotted in the skies just before the truce was set to begin. He added, "Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life."

Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian forces were engaged in battles in the Kursk region and had made advances in Belgorod. However, Russia’s Defense Ministry countered, claiming their troops pushed Ukrainian forces out of one of their last positions in Kursk, where Ukraine had launched a surprise incursion last year.

The Ukrainian president also mentioned that Russia had ignored a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, despite Ukraine’s willingness. Zelenskyy said, "If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly—mirroring Russia’s actions. Silence in response to silence, defensive strikes in response to attacks." He pushed for a longer peace, saying, "Thirty days could give peace a chance." But he wasn’t holding his breath, noting, "Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided."

This fleeting ceasefire comes on the heels of recent news that President Donald Trump announced an 80-page minerals deal with Ukraine, expected to be signed next week. The U.S. has reportedly relaxed its repayment demands for its aid to Ukraine, dropping from $300 billion to $100 billion, although details remain scarce.

On the peace front, Trump commented that the U.S. would "just take a pass" on Ukraine peace efforts if Russia refuses to agree to ceasefire terms, telling reporters, "If for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we\'re just going to say \'you\'re foolish, you\'re fools, you\'re horrible people,\' and we\'re going to just take a pass."