Putin Declares Three-Day Easter Truce in Ukraine
The announcement was made during a meeting at the Kremlin, where Putin received a briefing from General Valery Gerasimov on the latest battlefield development
Russia, PUREWILAYAH.COM – Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially declared a three-day Easter ceasefire, halting all military operations from 6:00 p.m. Moscow time (1:00 p.m. GMT) on Friday, April 19, until midnight on Monday, April 21, 2025.
The announcement was made during a meeting at the Kremlin, where the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces received a briefing from General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, on the latest battlefield developments.
"Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 6:00 p.m. until midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter ceasefire. I order all military actions to be stopped during this period," Putin stated.
He added that Russia assumes the Ukrainian side will take similar steps to cease hostilities. Nevertheless, he stressed that Russian forces must remain fully prepared to respond to any violations of the truce or enemy provocations.
Ongoing Military Operations Across Multiple Fronts
Despite the ceasefire announcement, General Gerasimov reported that six Russian military groups are currently conducting offensive operations in 11 different directions.
The Northern Group, in particular, is focused on liberating areas in the Kursk region, much of which has reportedly been brought under Russian control. Operations to clear Ukrainian forces from the Gornal and Oleshnya areas in the region are still ongoing.
"The enemy has concentrated significant forces in small areas of the Kursk region," Gerasimov stated.
He also noted that several attempts by Ukrainian troops to enter the Belgorod region have been successfully thwarted by Russian defenses.
A Humanitarian Pause Amid the War
The Kremlin’s unexpected move is framed as a humanitarian gesture during the Easter period, observed by the Orthodox Christian community. The ceasefire aims to offer a moment of reflection and a pause in the fighting amidst the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Ukrainian side regarding their position on the proposed ceasefire. (PW)