Easter Truce: Russia and Ukraine Declare Temporary Ceasefire

Fri Apr 10 2026 01:45:35 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a surprising move, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a truce for Orthodox Easter, allowing respite for soldiers and civilians amidst ongoing conflict.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire from April 11 to April 12, coinciding with Orthodox Easter celebrations. Despite previous calls for a ceasefire from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky being ignored, this declaration follows an appeal for peace during the holiday. Both leaders express cautious optimism, with Zelensky urging an Easter free from threats and the possibility of a genuine path toward peace.

In a surprising development, Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement for a truce to coincide with Orthodox Easter. President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that Russian forces will cease fire from April 11 to April 12, allowing both soldiers and civilians to celebrate the holiday with a brief pause from conflict.

This decision comes in the wake of repeated pleas for a ceasefire from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which had previously gone unacknowledged by the Kremlin. During a press conference, Putin instructed his troops to prepare for any potential provocations and declared that he expected Ukraine to mirror Russia's commitment to peace during this sacred time.

Despite the Russian government's overtures, the tone of their communication and attempts to set the terms of the ceasefire have raised skepticism in Ukraine. In response, Zelensky affirmed Ukraine's readiness to engage in “symmetrical steps” towards peace and emphasized the need for an Easter celebration free from threats. He stated, People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace. Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well.

Earlier this week, Zelensky had requested the United States to facilitate a proposal for a holiday weekend truce to Moscow, marking this truce as a potential initial step towards a more sustained peace effort.

This ceasefire, if effective, would provide much-needed relief to frontline soldiers located in contested eastern regions, where they are continuously targeted by drones. It also allows ordinary citizens to enjoy a moment of respite amid the ongoing air alerts and hazardous living conditions where missile attacks have become all too common.

However, Ukrainians remain wary, recalling past instances where Russia's commitments to ceasefire have been short-lived. For example, a previously declared 'energy truce' during the winter turned out to be a mere facade, as it was only used to regroup military resources for subsequent attacks.

As the potential truce nears, many look forward to a true cessation of hostilities, seeing it as a necessary precursor to serious negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. Despite Russia's insistence on preconditions for peace talks, Ukraine has persistently called for a stable ceasefire as a priority.