Putin declares Ukraine ceasefire ordering troops to stop fighting 'in all directions'

Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire with Ukraine ahead of the Orthodox Easter period, ordering his tropps to stop fighting in “all directions”. The short-term ceasefire will run from 4pm (1pm GMT) on April 11 until the end of the day on April 12, 2026.

The 36-hour ceasefire will fall on the Orthodox Easter. It is understood the announcement came after a call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin. It is understood Zelensky, through the US, suggested that both sides should stop striking energy infrastructures over the holiday. Orthodox Easter (Pascha) in 2026 is celebrated on Sunday, April 12, and is observed by Orthodox churches, including the Greek and the Ukrainian Orthodox ones.

In a statement, the Kremlin said: “Orders have been issued for this period to cease hostilities in all directions,” adding: “Troops are to be prepared to counter any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions. We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation.”

It is understood there wasn’t an immediate reaction from Zelensky after the Russian announcement. The same announcement was made last year, but the Russian President “violated it more than 2,000 times,” Zelensky said at the time. Russia also accused Ukraine of breaking the agreement.

Russia has effectively rejected a 30-day unconditional truce proposed last year by the US and Ukraine as a step towards peace, insisting instead on a comprehensive settlement, but Moscow has announced several short, unilateral ceasefires, The Guardian reported.

Quoted by The Sun, yesterday (Wednesday, April 7) Zelensky said: “I’ve always said that this is where we need to start. But we’ve been told and given signals that no – the war can only be ended once and for all; a ceasefire accomplishes nothing. But I believe it does.

“The example of the Middle East now clearly shows that a ceasefire is possible. The United States has sufficient strength to make this happen. If they were able to secure a ceasefire in the Middle East, then there is enough strength to secure a ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine as well – especially since Ukraine supports it.”

A peace deal between Russia and Ukraine seemed very close in January when US envoy Steve Witkoff issued a major update on peace talks between the two countries, saying a peace deal was “90% done”. It came as efforts to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine had repeatedly fallen apart, but growing pressure from the US at the time had shifted the dynamics.

But talks stopped when Russia demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donbas. After almost four years of war, Ukraine still controls around 25% of Donetsk – one of the two provinces that make up the Donbas. Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that Kyiv will not pull its troops out of the region, much to the fury of Putin.