New Delhi, 19 April 2025: There has been a new and important turn in the Russia-Ukraine War. Russian President Vladimir Putin on 19 April 2025 announced a unilateral Easter ceasefire, which will begin at 6 pm Moscow time (3:00 PM GMT) on Saturday and last till midnight on Sunday. The Russian Defense Ministry said that this ceasefire has been implemented on humanitarian grounds, but put a condition to “mutually respect” it, that is, Ukraine will also have to follow it. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy questioned this announcement, as Russian drones attacked Ukraine on the same day. Is this ceasefire a step towards peace, or Russia's strategy? Let us understand this development with facts.
Putin's declaration and conditions
According to Reuters, Putin instructed his military commander Valery Gerasimov to implement a ceasefire. The Russian Defense Ministry issued instructions to all group commanders for a ceasefire in the "Special Military Operation" area. Putin said he welcomes the peace efforts of the US, China, and BRICS countries. However, he reiterated his demand for Ukraine to give up its ambition to join NATO and withdraw its troops from four regions—Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson (Annexed Ukrainian Regions), which Kiev termed as a "surrender".
Ukraine expressed doubts over this ceasefire. Zelensky said that the Russian drone attacks on Saturday reflect Moscow's "true attitude towards Easter." Ukrainian officials said 12 people were killed in recent attacks in Kharkiv and Sumy, raising questions about Russia's ceasefire intentions.
Background of the ceasefire
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been going on since February 2022 (Russia's Invasion of Ukraine), has so far killed millions of people and devastated Ukraine. A 30-day partial ceasefire was implemented in March 2025, mediated by US President Donald Trump, to prevent attacks on energy infrastructure. However, both sides accused each other of violating it.
Trump had promised to end the war soon, but his efforts have failed so far. Ukraine accepted Trump's proposed full ceasefire, but Russia rejected it. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said peace needed to be agreed on “complex conditions”. European leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, accused Russia of delaying the ceasefire.
Global and regional reactions
Putin’s announcement has sparked mixed reactions globally. US special envoy Steve Witkoff recently met Putin and claimed Russia was ready for “permanent peace”. However, Ukraine and its European allies accused Russia of delaying the talks. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Putin was “making a mockery of Trump’s goodwill”.
#RussiaUkraineCeasefire and #EasterTruce are trending on social media. One user on X wrote, “Putin’s ceasefire is a sham. How can it be credible after 35 people died in Sumy?” On the other hand, some Russian users called it a “humanitarian move”. India took a neutral stand in the matter, but advocated humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
The future of the ceasefire
The ceasefire is only for 36 hours, and experts believe it may be part of Russia’s strategy rather than a permanent end to the war. Russia recently stepped up attacks in Kharkiv and Sumy, and military analysts say Putin is increasing pressure to capture more territory. Zelensky invited Trump to visit Ukraine so that he can see the impact of Russia’s attacks.
Conclusion
Putin’s Easter ceasefire is a small but important step in the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Ukraine’s suspicions and Russia’s conditions have raised questions about its credibility. Despite Trump's mediation and Europe's efforts, lasting peace still seems far away. Is this ceasefire the beginning of peace, or a new ploy by Russia? The next few days may answer this question, but for now the world's eyes are fixed on the region.
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