The Russian government, under President Vladimir Putin’s direction, has declared a limited cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, designated as an “Easter truce.” This temporary suspension of military activity is scheduled to commence at 4:00 PM GMT on Saturday and extend through Monday evening.
Putin formally announced the initiative stating, “”Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 6pm [Moscow time] to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order all military actions to be stopped for this period.” He simultaneously emphasized that Russian forces would remain vigilant and prepared to respond decisively to any breaches of the ceasefire or hostile actions originating from Ukrainian positions.
“Our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions,” Putin’s statement concluded, underscoring a cautious approach despite the gesture.
This announcement represents a significant attempt at diplomacy by the Russian president, who leads the Orthodox Christian faith. However, the move transpired shortly after reports surfaced indicating that the United States was contemplating formally acknowledging Crimea as part of Russia – a development potentially reshaping the geopolitical landscape.
According to information obtained by Bloomberg, this recognition could become a key component of broader peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The prospect of regaining control over Crimea, annexed in 2014 after Russian military intervention, has long been a central objective for Moscow.
Further updates on this evolving situation are anticipated.
