Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Orthodox Easter, according to the Kremlin.
The truce is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Saturday (9 a.m. ET) and continue until the end of Sunday.
During this period, Russian forces have been ordered to pause combat operations across all fronts.
However, the Kremlin also instructed troops to remain on alert, saying they should be ready to respond to any “provocations” or attacks from Ukrainian forces.
“We proceed from the assumption that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation,” the Kremlin said.
The announcement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier proposed a temporary Easter ceasefire, saying Ukraine has repeatedly called for pauses in fighting during religious holidays.
Zelenskyy said the aim is to give civilians a brief period of peace, adding that “people need an Easter free from threats” and a real opportunity to move toward peace.
The United States has been mediating discussions between Moscow and Kyiv as the war continues into its fifth year.
However, previous ceasefire attempts have largely broken down, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
A similar Easter ceasefire declared by Russia last year also collapsed amid renewed fighting.
Russia currently occupies around 20% of Ukrainian territory recognized under international law, including Crimea and parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.
Moscow has continued to demand additional territorial concessions as part of any future peace deal.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the conflict remains unresolved, with heavy fighting still reported across multiple fronts.
