Russian President Putin’s Major Announcement: Ceasefire Declaration for Easter

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire in honor of Easter. In a unilateral move, Putin ordered Russian troops to refrain from launching any attacks starting at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday until the end of Sunday. Putin expressed hope that Ukraine would respect Russia’s decision and cooperate with the ceasefire. However, Russian forces have been instructed to remain prepared for any potential attacks from Ukraine.

Putin directed Russian military chief Valery Gerasimov to ensure that Russian troops are ready to prevent any violations of the ceasefire by enemy forces. The Kremlin emphasized that the ceasefire is motivated by humanitarian considerations, stating that all military operations will be halted during this period. The expectation is that Ukraine will follow Russia’s example. Additionally, Russian troops are to stay alert for any violations or provocations from the enemy.

Putin’s Accusations Against Ukraine

Meanwhile, Putin has leveled serious accusations against Ukraine. He claimed that Ukraine had violated an agreement regarding energy infrastructure more than 100 times. Earlier, Russia announced that it would lift the ban on attacks targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaching this agreement.

Putin’s Remarks on Ukraine’s Commitment to Peace

On Saturday, while announcing the Easter ceasefire, Putin stated that the proposal would show how committed Ukraine is to honoring peace agreements and participating in peace talks. It is worth noting that similar ceasefire attempts were made during Easter in April 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in January 2023, but neither side agreed to them.