In a surprising move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a 30-hour unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with Orthodox Easter celebrations. The ceasefire, which begins at 6:00 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 and ends at midnight on April 21, is aimed at promoting a temporary halt to hostilities for humanitarian purposes.

Putin announced the decision through a statement issued by the Kremlin, emphasizing the hope that Ukraine would join in observing the truce. “For humanitarian reasons, the Russian side is declaring an Easter ceasefire today,” he stated, adding that all military operations by Russian forces would be suspended for the duration of the ceasefire.

However, the gesture was quickly overshadowed by a report from Bloomberg, which confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had rejected the ceasefire proposal. The Ukrainian government has not issued an official response, but previous ceasefire attempts have often failed due to mutual distrust and accusations of violations.

Putin underscored that while Russian forces would not engage in offensive operations, they remained on high alert to defend against potential ceasefire breaches or provocations. “Our troops must be ready to repel any aggressive actions by the enemy,” he said.

The announcement comes amid ongoing international efforts to mediate peace. U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently warned that the United States would withdraw from the negotiation process if no substantial progress is observed soon.

Putin also used the opportunity to criticize Ukraine for past violations, stating that Kyiv had breached a previous 30-day moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure over 100 times. He insisted that Ukraine’s actions reflect an unwillingness to resolve the conflict through peaceful dialogue.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which began on February 24, 2022, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Key points of contention include Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and Russia’s demand that Kyiv withdraw its forces from four eastern regions claimed by Moscow.

As the world watches this temporary truce unfold over Easter weekend, the international community remains cautiously hopeful, but wary, of any significant breakthrough.