By Sky News
Russia says it will cease “all military operations” as part of an “Easter truce” in Ukraine.
In an update on the Kremlin’s Telegram, Vladimir Putin says the temporary ceasefire will last from 6pm today (4pm UK time) until Monday.
“Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order all military actions to be stopped for this period.”
Moscow says it assumes the Ukrainian side “will follow our example”. Kyiv has not yet issued a response to the proposal.
“At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions,” it adds.
Not the first time an Easter truce has been proposed
This isn’t the first time an “Easter truce” has been put forward to pause fighting in the war.
In 2022, just months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion into Ukraine, a truce was proposed between 21 and 25 April.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed the temporary truce for “opening a series of humanitarian corridors” and creating conditions “for the sage exit of all civilians wishing to leave the areas of confrontation”.
However, it never materialised.
While Ukraine said it agreed to the proposal, Russia refused the truce “in order not to give the Kyiv nationalists a break”.
Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky labelled the proposal as “insincere” and said it would “give Ukrainian soldiers more time to regroup and receive weapons”.
‘All combat operations’ to be suspended
We can now bring you some further details about Vladimir Putin’s surprise ceasefire announcement.
A statement from Russia’s defence ministry says the chief of Russia’s general staff, Valery Gerasimov, has instructed “all commanders of groups in the special military operation zone” to cease combat operations from 6pm (4pm UK time) to midnight (10pm UK time) on 21 April.
“The ceasefire is being introduced for humanitarian purposes and will be observed by the Russian Joint Group of Troops (Forces), provided that it is mutually observed by the Kyiv regime,” the statement adds.
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