Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERS
Putin Declares 30-Hour Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine Amid U.S. Pressure on Peace Talks
Moscow, April 19, 2025 — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 30-hour unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine on Saturday, citing humanitarian considerations during the Orthodox Easter holiday. The announcement follows growing pressure from the United States, which has indicated it may withdraw from ongoing peace negotiations unless tangible progress is made.
Ceasefire Timing and Conditions
The ceasefire, announced in a televised meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, was set to begin at 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday and end at midnight on Sunday.
“Based on humanitarian considerations … the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period,” President Putin stated. He added, however, that Russian forces must remain alert and prepared to respond to any violations or provocations from the Ukrainian side.
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed it had instructed troops to adhere to the ceasefire, provided that Ukraine reciprocates.
Ukrainian Response and Continued Hostilities
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed the ceasefire proposal, accusing Russia of continuing attacks despite the truce announcement. He reported that Ukrainian forces were actively defending against Russian airstrikes shortly before the ceasefire was due to begin.
“Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life,” Zelenskiy wrote on social media platform X, referencing the Iranian-manufactured drones commonly used by Russian forces.
U.S. Threatens to Withdraw from Peace Talks
The ceasefire declaration came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Washington could abandon its mediation efforts unless both sides demonstrate a commitment to ending the conflict. Trump, who has previously vowed to bring about a swift resolution to the war, has shifted U.S. policy to a more neutral stance, pressuring Kyiv to negotiate.
Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian envoy recently in Washington for talks, characterized the ceasefire as “one step closer to peace” in a post on X, accompanied by a dove emoji.
Previous Ceasefire Attempts and Ongoing Conflict
This is not the first time the Kremlin has declared a unilateral truce. A similar 36-hour ceasefire was proposed for Orthodox Christmas in January 2023, which Ukraine rejected. In March, Kyiv accepted a U.S.-backed proposal for a 30-day truce, which Moscow declined, resulting only in limited pauses in specific attack zones.
Putin’s announcement follows a deadly missile strike in Sumy last week that killed 35 civilians and wounded nearly 120 others, prompting renewed calls from European allies for stronger action from Washington.
Conditions for Peace and Stalled Negotiations
President Putin reiterated Russia’s openness to diplomatic solutions but maintained his demands, including the recognition of territories claimed by Russia and Ukraine’s permanent exclusion from Western military alliances. Kyiv, however, continues to reject these terms as unacceptable.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged some progress in negotiations but described direct communication with Washington as “difficult.”
Humanitarian Developments and Prisoner Exchange
Separately, Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on Saturday, with each side releasing 246 individuals. An additional group of 31 wounded Ukrainian soldiers was exchanged for 15 injured Russian troops. The United Arab Emirates mediated the swap.
The conflict, now in its third year, has led to hundreds of thousands of military casualties, the displacement of millions of Ukrainians, and widespread destruction of urban infrastructure.
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