**Russian President Putin Announces Easter Ceasefire, But Will It Last?**
In a surprise move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a temporary ceasefire on the Easter weekend, halting all military action from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21. The announcement was made during a meeting with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov.
Putin framed the decision as being guided by humanitarian concerns, saying “I order the suspension of all combat operations during this period.” He also added that Ukraine should follow Russia’s example, suggesting that the ceasefire is a test for Ukraine’s sincerity in pursuing peace talks. However, Ukraine has yet to respond to Putin’s announcement.
**A Repeat of Previous Ceasefires?**
The Easter ceasefire comes after previous Russian attacks on Ukraine during major Orthodox holidays, including a deadly strike on Sumy on Palm Sunday that killed 35 people and an attack on Kharkiv during Good Friday. The effectiveness of the ceasefire will be closely watched to see if it leads to a longer-term pause in fighting.
The Ukrainian government has not yet commented on Putin’s announcement, but experts are skeptical about the chances of a sustained ceasefire. Russia has consistently rejected previous ceasefire proposals, including a U.S.-proposed 30-day complete ceasefire, which Ukraine supported.
**A Test for Peace Talks?**
Putin’s statement that the real measure of Kyiv’s intentions will be revealed by its actions over the Easter period suggests that he is looking for a sign from Ukraine that it is committed to peace talks. However, the Ukrainian government has been clear about its desire for a comprehensive ceasefire and negotiations with Russia.
The announcement comes as Washington signaled that it was ready to cease its mediation efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine if one of the sides “makes it difficult.” The U.S. has developed a draft concept for how a comprehensive ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia might be monitored, but this is still in the early stages.
**Other Developments**
In other news, a clash broke out between police and far-right protesters outside the Zhovten cinema in Kyiv on April 19, where the Sunny Bunny LGBTQ+ film festival was taking place. Iran has filed a case at the International Court of Justice seeking to overturn a ruling that held Tehran responsible for the 2020 downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet.
Russia has deployed eight missiles and 87 long-range drones on April 19, with 33 drones shot down and 36 turned out to be decoy. The U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick visited the front line and encouraged his colleagues in Congress to come to Ukraine.
**Analysis**
While Putin’s announcement of an Easter ceasefire is a surprise move, it remains to be seen whether it will lead to a longer-term pause in fighting. Russia has consistently rejected previous ceasefire proposals, and the Ukrainian government has been clear about its desire for a comprehensive ceasefire and negotiations with Russia.
The effectiveness of the ceasefire will “test Ukraine’s sincerity in pursuing peace talks,” according to Putin, but experts are skeptical about the chances of a sustained ceasefire. The situation on the ground remains volatile, with both sides continuing to exchange fire.
Only time will tell if this Easter ceasefire will mark a turning point in the conflict or simply be another fleeting moment of calm in a much larger and more complex war.
