Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 32-hour ceasefire this weekend in connection with the upcoming Orthodox Easter holidays. The pause in hostilities with neighboring Ukraine will run from 4 p.m. on Saturday until the end of the day on April 12, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Russian military commanders in Ukraine were instructed to “cease combat activity on all fronts during this period.”
“It is assumed that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation,” Kremlin officials said.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv had already proposed a temporary Easter “stand down” and “will act accordingly.”
“People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace,” Mr. Zelenskyy said on Telegram. “Russia has a chance not to return to attacks after Easter.”
Mr. Zelenskyy said he has repeatedly stated that Ukraine is ready for reciprocal steps, with each side mirroring the other, to find a peaceful solution to a conflict that began more than four years ago.
Despite the Easter ceasefire, the Kremlin warned that Russians will be ready to“counter any provocation or other aggressive actions by the enemy.”
Orthodox churches celebrate Easter after those in the West because of a centuries-old “calendar clash.” Catholic and Protestant churches generally use the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in 1582 to correct a slight drift in time. Most Orthodox churches still use the earlier Julian calendar for religious festivals.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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