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Russia & Ukraine Agree to Orthodox Easter Ceasefire Amid Stalled Peace Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire from April 11-12 for Orthodox Easter, ordering a halt to combat operations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukraine had proposed the truce and would abide by it, calling for a peaceful holiday and movement toward peace. However, the Kremlin has instructed its troops to remain ready to repel any attacks during the period. The temporary pause occurs as peace negotiations are stalled, with Russia reiterating its demand for a Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbass region as a precondition.

Key Points: Russia-Ukraine Orthodox Easter Ceasefire Announced by Putin

  • Ceasefire for Orthodox Easter
  • Zelensky agrees to symmetrical steps
  • Russian troops on alert for provocations
  • Kremlin demands Ukraine withdraw from Donbass
3 min read

Russia and Ukraine agree for Orthodox Easter ceasefire

Putin announces a temporary ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, with Zelensky stating Ukraine will comply. The truce comes as broader peace talks remain deadlocked.

"People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace - Volodymyr Zelensky"

Moscow, April 10

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing Kyiv's willingness to abide it.

According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will remain in effect from 4 pm (Moscow time) on April 11 and until the end of April 12, leading Russian news agency Tass reported.

The statement reads, "By decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been declared ahead of the Orthodox Easter - from 4:00 p.m. [Moscow time, 1:00 p.m. GMT] on April 11 until the end of April 12, 2026 [9:00 pm GMT]."

Russian soldiers have been ordered to cease combat operations in all directions during the ceasefire from April 11-12. However, they have been asked to stand ready to repel any enemy attack.

The statement reads, "Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Andrey Belousov and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - Commander of the Joint Grouping of Forces - Army General Valery Gerasimov have been instructed to halt combat operations in all areas for this period. Russian troops are to remain ready to repel any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions on its part."

Meanwhile, Zelensky stated that Ukraine had proposed a ceasefire during the Easter Holidays and would act accordingly.

"Ukraine has repeatedly stated that we are ready for symmetrical steps. We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays this year and will act accordingly. People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well," Zelensky posted on X.

The ceasefire comes as talks to end the war between Ukraine and Russia remain stalled.

On April 3, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow has repeatedly said that to stop Russia's military action in Ukraine, Kyiv must withdraw from Donbass.

When asked about reports alleging that Russia had set a deadline for withdrawal of Ukrainian soldiers, he responded, "There are no deadlines, it's not true."

"We have repeatedly said that in order to stop the hot stage of the special military operation, Ukraine needs to pull back troops from Donbass. This has to be done," Tass quoted Peskov as saying.

He stated that the withdrawal of Ukrainian soldiers from Donbass would contribute to the transition to a political and diplomatic settlement of the war between Moscow and Kyiv.

Peskov said, "For this, [Vladimir] Zelensky must take political responsibility and make an appropriate decision. But there are no deadlines here. This should be done today, or better yet, it should have been done yesterday."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While any pause in fighting is welcome, especially for a religious holiday, the conditions attached are worrying. "Ready to repel any attack" means the situation on the ground remains extremely tense. This feels more like a PR move than a genuine step towards peace. The suffering of civilians continues.
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Vikram M
From an Indian perspective, we understand the importance of respecting religious sentiments. If this ceasefire allows families to observe Easter in peace, even for a day, it has value. However, the core issue remains unresolved. The global community, including India, must push harder for a sustainable solution that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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Rohit P
The pre-condition for a full ceasefire—Ukraine withdrawing from Donbass—seems like a non-starter for Kyiv. It's a classic deadlock. India's position of strategic autonomy is crucial here; we must maintain relations with both sides to potentially act as a mediator in the future. Jai Hind.
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Priya S
A 48-hour ceasefire is better than nothing, but let's be real, it's a very small step. The economic fallout from this war is hitting everyone, including us in India with fuel prices and supply chain issues. I hope this symbolic pause builds some trust for longer talks. 🙏
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Nikhil C
Respectfully, I have to criticize the framing here. The article heavily quotes Russian sources (Kremlin, Tass, Peskov) while Zelensky's statement is much shorter. For balance, we need more context on Ukraine's position and the humanitarian situation on the ground. A ceasefire is news, but impartial reporting is essential.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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