Thirty-two hours. That is how long Vladimir Putin has told Russian forces to hold their fire in Ukraine over the Orthodox Easter weekend.
The decree, released by the Kremlin on Thursday, starts the pause at 4pm on Saturday and runs it to the end of Sunday. It came after Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for a break earlier in the week. His proposal was narrower: each side would stop targeting the other’s energy infrastructure over the holiday. He said he passed the offer through the US, which has been mediating talks between Moscow and Kyiv delegations as Russia’s invasion enters a fifth year.
Kyiv had not reacted to Putin’s announcement at the time of publication.
The Kremlin statement said: “Orders have been issued for this period to cease hostilities in all directions.” It added that troops should be ready to counter “any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions”, and said Moscow assumes Ukraine will follow the Russian example.
A record of short truces
Earlier attempts have gone nowhere. Putin unilaterally declared a 30-hour ceasefire last Easter, and each side accused the other of breaking it.
Russia has also effectively turned down a 30-day unconditional truce that the US and Ukraine proposed last year as a step toward peace. Moscow wants a comprehensive settlement instead, though it has announced several short, unilateral ceasefires.
The US-led negotiations have made no progress on the key issues. Washington’s attention has moved to the Middle East conflict, while the two armies stay locked in battle along a frontline of roughly 800 miles (1,250 km).
