Zelensky responds to Putin's Easter truce in Ukraine war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agrees to Easter ceasefire as Putin orders a surprise 36-hour truce amid ongoing artillery fire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 17, 2025. Photo by Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that his forces would honor a surprise Easter truce declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite reports of continued Russian shelling and air-raid sirens in Kyiv and other regions. The unexpected announcement of the 36-hour ceasefire marks one of the most significant attempts at halting hostilities in the Ukraine war since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Zelensky responds to Putin's Easter truce in Ukraine war captured the attention of international media and governments as both Kyiv and Moscow signaled a temporary pause in fighting. However, even as the truce supposedly went into effect, conflicting reports emerged from Ukraine’s frontlines, with Zelensky accusing Russia of violating the ceasefire by maintaining artillery fire and continuing assaults in eastern regions.

A fragile truce amid the echoes of war

Vladimir Putin’s order, broadcast on state television earlier on Saturday, stipulated that Russian combat operations should halt between 6:00 p.m. local time on Saturday until midnight on Sunday, in observance of Easter. He framed the decision as a “humanitarian gesture,” emphasizing the spiritual significance of the holiday for both nations.

“Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce,” Putin said during a televised briefing with General Valery Gerasimov, the Russian army’s chief of general staff.

Zelensky responded with cautious agreement, stating Ukraine would mirror the Russian truce. In a message posted on social media, he said, “If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia’s actions.”

He went a step further by proposing the ceasefire be extended beyond Sunday, offering a 30-day period to give peace efforts a realistic chance. Still, Zelensky was quick to express skepticism about Moscow’s commitment, given its track record of broken agreements throughout the conflict.

Ceasefire marred by air-raid sirens and continued shelling

Despite official announcements from both capitals, the reality on the ground appeared far more complex. Mere hours after the truce was set to begin, air-raid sirens sounded across Kyiv and several other Ukrainian regions. The Ukrainian military reported that Russian artillery activity had not stopped in several key areas.

“Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided,” Zelensky said in his Saturday night address. “The fighting is ongoing, and Russian attacks continue,” Ukraine’s military command confirmed.

While there was a noted decrease in drone activity and shelling in some zones, the Chief of Staff said Russian military activity had persisted in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, two of the most contested regions in eastern Ukraine.

Civilian and soldier reactions show deep distrust

In Kramatorsk, a city near the frontline, the mood was one of skepticism. Many Ukrainian soldiers and residents viewed the ceasefire as another propaganda move by the Kremlin. Dmitry, a 40-year-old soldier, reflected widespread distrust by saying, “Putin might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we don’t trust Russia.”

Vladislav, a 22-year-old serviceman stationed nearby, recalled a previous ceasefire attempt in 2014 that had collapsed almost immediately. “I feel like it’s going to start again after a while, and it’s going to go on and on,” he said.

In contrast, some in Russia expressed frustration at any pause in the offensive. Yevgeny Pavlov, a 58-year-old Moscow resident, told AFP: “There is no need to give them respite. If we press, it means we should press to the end.”

Prisoner exchange signals partial cooperation

Adding to the complex dynamic of the day, Russia and Ukraine conducted one of the largest prisoner exchanges in recent months. Both sides reported that 246 captured soldiers were returned in a swap mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement, President Zelensky confirmed that the number of Ukrainian prisoners of war returned since the beginning of the conflict had now reached 4,552.

The timing of the exchange, coinciding with the truce, suggested some level of behind-the-scenes coordination — though analysts remain cautious about reading too much into this isolated act of cooperation.

Washington’s role and pressure for peace

The truce announcement followed weeks of diplomatic pressure from Washington. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had reportedly worked to convince both sides to commit to a temporary halt in hostilities. On Friday, U.S. officials threatened to pull out of peace talks entirely if no progress was made.

While Ukraine accepted Trump’s earlier proposal for a 30-day full and unconditional ceasefire, Putin rejected the offer. Zelensky’s renewed call to extend the current truce again underscores Kyiv’s strategic interest in pursuing a longer break from fighting — potentially to regroup, resupply, and reengage diplomatically.

“Thirty days could give peace a chance,” Zelensky reiterated, recalling Putin’s rejection of the prior extended truce proposal. The Ukrainian president also used the opportunity to highlight the religious significance of Easter and the cost of war on Ukraine’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

“For millions of Ukrainians, Easter is one of the most important holidays. And millions of Ukrainians will go to church,” Zelensky said. “Over the years of this full-scale war, Russian attacks have destroyed or damaged more than six hundred churches, prayer houses, and places of worship.”

A rare pause — but for how long?

Despite the growing calls for peace, the question of whether this truce will hold remains unresolved. Past attempts at temporary ceasefires, including during Easter in 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in 2023, ultimately collapsed due to disagreements and renewed hostilities.

Putin suggested that the success of the latest ceasefire would serve as a test of Kyiv’s sincerity toward future negotiations.

“This will show how sincere is the Kyiv regime’s readiness, its desire and ability to observe agreements and participate in a process of peace talks,” he said.

Yet the Ukrainian side remains unconvinced that Russia will honor any truce in good faith. With continued artillery strikes reported and widespread mistrust between the two sides, the fragile Easter truce appears vulnerable to collapse — just as its predecessors did.

Still, even a brief lull in fighting offers a rare moment of pause in a war that has stretched over three years, devastated cities, and taken tens of thousands of lives.

As of Saturday night, both nations remained officially committed to the ceasefire, yet reality on the ground suggests that full silence has yet to be achieved.