Russia Announces 32-Hour Orthodox Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine; Kyiv Agrees
Putin orders halt to combat operations from April 11-12 following Kyiv’s proposal; Zelenskyy urges Moscow not to return to attacks after holiday
MOSCOW — April 10, 2026 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Orthodox Easter, ordering his forces to halt combat operations across all front lines from Saturday afternoon through Sunday night, the Kremlin said late Thursday .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Kyiv would abide by the truce, which runs from 4:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on April 11 until midnight on April 12 . The ceasefire coincides with Orthodox Easter celebrations on April 12 .
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Terms of the Ceasefire
In a statement released Thursday evening, the Kremlin said Putin had instructed Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to “cease combat operations in all directions” during the Easter period .
Russian troops have been ordered to remain prepared “to repel any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions on its part” .
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“We proceed on the basis that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation,” the Kremlin statement said .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency TASS that Putin’s ceasefire proposal was not discussed in advance with the United States and is not linked to any efforts to resume three-way talks on a settlement .
Ukraine’s Response
Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s commitment to the ceasefire, noting that Kyiv had repeatedly proposed a halt to fighting for the Orthodox Easter holiday .
“Ukraine has repeatedly stated that we are ready for reciprocal steps. We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holiday this year and will act accordingly,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram .
The Ukrainian president urged Russia not to return to attacks even after the holiday ends. “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,” he said .
Zelenskyy had previously proposed that both sides stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure over the holiday, an offer he said was conveyed through the United States, which has been mediating diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Kyiv .
Historical Context
This is not the first Easter ceasefire attempted during the conflict. Putin unilaterally declared a 30-hour Easter truce last year, but each side accused the other of violating it . Despite the mutual allegations, the intensity of hostilities did decrease during that period .
Ukraine has previously offered to abide by a ceasefire of at least 30 days to allow peace talks to take place, an offer that was rejected by Russia .
Parallel Diplomatic Efforts
The Easter ceasefire announcement comes as Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is in the United States for meetings with officials from President Donald Trump’s administration. Those talks are expected to center on a potential peace deal and US-Russia economic cooperation, according to sources familiar with the visit .
The announcement also coincides with the same day that talks between the United States and Iran are scheduled to be held in Islamabad following a ceasefire agreement between those two sides after 40 days of war .
Broader Context
Multiple rounds of US-led negotiations have failed to produce a breakthrough in the Ukraine conflict, with the talks further complicated by shifting international focus toward the Middle East, including tensions involving Iran .
The negotiations remain deadlocked, as Moscow continues to press for territorial and political concessions that Kyiv has rejected as unacceptable . The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and displaced millions, making it the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II .
Previous attempts to establish temporary pauses in fighting have had limited success. The Kremlin’s statement on Thursday included a caveat ordering troops to be ready to “counter any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions,” reflecting the deep mistrust between the two sides .
As of Friday morning, no further details had emerged regarding potential extensions of the ceasefire beyond the Easter period. Zelenskyy has urged Moscow not to return to attacks after Easter, but the Kremlin has not commented on any extension .
SOURCES / INPUTS
Kyiv24: Russia announces Easter ceasefire for 32 hours from April 11 to April 12
TASS: Putin declares Easter ceasefire
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