Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, starting Saturday at 6 p.m. Moscow time and lasting until midnight after Easter Sunday. This announcement comes as Russia and Ukraine conducted a significant exchange of prisoners, marking the largest swap since the beginning of the full-scale invasion over three years ago.
During a meeting with military leaders, Putin emphasized that Russian troops would be prepared to respond to any violations of the ceasefire. He expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate the gesture. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the ceasefire as a tactic by Putin to manipulate the situation, highlighting ongoing air raid alerts and drone activity over Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted that Ukraine had previously agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposal from the U.S. in March, which Russia rejected. He pointed out that Putin’s current offer of a 30-hour ceasefire is not a genuine commitment, given the history of unfulfilled promises.
On the same day, both countries exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war. Russia reported that 246 of its service members were returned, while Ukraine confirmed the return of 277 soldiers. This exchange was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, which acted as a mediator.
Putin’s ceasefire announcement followed comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who indicated that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were nearing a critical point. Trump insisted that neither side was trying to deceive him in his efforts to bring an end to the ongoing conflict. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the U.S. might shift its focus if there is no progress in the peace talks.
In another development, Russia claimed to have regained control over nearly all of the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces had previously made incursions. Russian military officials stated that they had liberated 99.5% of the territory. However, Zelenskyy countered that Ukrainian forces were still active in the area, and independent verification of Russia’s claims is pending.
As the situation evolves, both sides remain on high alert, with ongoing military actions and exchanges of fire reported in various regions. The ceasefire and prisoner exchange provide a brief pause in hostilities, but skepticism remains regarding the sincerity of the ceasefire and the potential for lasting peace.