Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in the conflict zone with Ukraine for the Orthodox Easter holidays. As reported by the Kremlin on April 19, 2025, Russian troops will suspend all military actions from 18:00 on April 19 until midnight on April 21. The head of state expressed hope that the Ukrainian side will support the initiative and also refrain from military operations. However, Putin stressed that Russian forces will remain ready to immediately respond in the event of ceasefire violations, provocations or any aggressive actions by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The statement was an unexpected step amid ongoing escalation and diplomatic efforts to find paths to peace.

The Easter truce initiative, according to the Kremlin, reflects Russia's desire to create conditions for a humanitarian pause, allowing civilians to celebrate the religious holiday in relative safety.

The context of the truce announcement is linked to recent international efforts to achieve a ceasefire. According to Reuters, a meeting of representatives of the United States, Ukraine and European countries is scheduled for next week in London to discuss a plan to resolve the conflict proposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump. According to The New York Post, Kyiv already supports the American initiative by 90%, but key issues, including the status of disputed territories, remain unresolved. In this light, the Easter truce may be perceived as a gesture of goodwill from Moscow ahead of important negotiations.

However, Ukraine's reaction to the initiative remains unclear. According to the BBC, Ukrainian authorities are sceptical about such proposals.