Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine for the duration of the Orthodox Easter holidays, the Kremlin said, after which Kiev also proposed a halt to hostilities.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this week he had passed a recess ceasefire resolution through the United States, even as talks to end the four-year war stalled amid global focus on the Middle East.“The ceasefire has been declared by Putin in connection with the Orthodox holiday near Easter from 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on April 11 until the end of the day on April 12, 2026,” the Kremlin said.The General Staff “has been instructed to cease combat operations in all directions for this period,” it said, noting that troops are “ready to counter any possible provocation by the enemy.”“We believe that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation.”Several rounds of US-led talks have failed to bring the two sides closer, with momentum slowing further as Washington’s attention shifted to Iran.Talks remain deadlocked, with Moscow demanding territorial and political concessions that Kiev rejects as tantamount to surrender.The war killed thousands and displaced millions, making it Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
