Putin announces 30-hour Easter truce
By Digital Look
Date: Sunday 20 Apr 2025
(Sharecast News) - Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 30-hour halt to attacks on Ukraine at the weekend.
The unilateral ceasefire - under the assumption that Kyiv would follow suit - was ordered for between Saturday afternoon and 2100 GMT Sunday, or midnight time in Moscow.
Putin cited "humanitarian considerations" for his decision.
In parallel, Russia and Ukraine exchanged more than 500 prisoners of war, one of the largest exchanges since the start of the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that his country would follow suit "if Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence".
The BBC in Ukraine reported that it had been quieter on the front lines.
Because the ceasefire was announced only minutes before it was due to begin, a complete halt had always been unlikely.
Zelensky, however, said on social media on Sunday morning that: "The Russian army is attempting to create the general impression of a ceasefire, while in some areas still continuing isolated attempts to advance."
Speaking to Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, on 18 April, US vice-President, JD Vance, had reportedly said that the US was optimistic regarding its ability to put an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
On the same day, Bloomberg cited people familiar with the matter according to whom Washington was ready to recognise Russia's control of Crimea as an element of a wider peace agreement - although a final decision had not yet been taken.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meanwhile had said that Ukraine's call for security guarantees were not an "illegitimate desire".
Zelensky added that: "Thirty hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance."
For his part, Steven Rosenberg at the BBC wrote that it was "hard to see" President Putin having suddenly been persuaded that now was the moment to strike a deal.
But Rosenberg went on to add: "Then again, when it comes to diplomacy, we are not privy to all the conversations taking place behind closed doors or to the details of possible deals under discussion.
"We tend to only see the tip of the iceberg - which leaves open the possibility of more unexpected announcements."
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