Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine, scheduled to begin on Saturday afternoon and extend through Sunday, coinciding with the Orthodox Easter weekend. He has ordered Russian forces to halt hostilities during this period. The Kremlin stated that troops would remain prepared to retaliate against any “provocations” that might occur during the pause.
This proposal comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeal earlier in the week for an end to attacks on energy infrastructure throughout the holiday period.
Previous short-term ceasefires have had minimal effect, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Broader peace initiatives spearheaded by the United States have also stalled, leaving the conflict to persist along a front line stretching approximately 800 miles.