Russia proposes a ceasefire in Ukraine

A two-day truce was announced on Thursday. It will take effect from 4 p.m. on April 11 and last until late evening on April 12. According to a statement from the Kremlin, Russian forces have been ordered to “cease combat operations in all directions.” It was also emphasised that Russian troops “must be ready to eliminate any possible provocation by the enemy and any aggressive action.” The Ukrainian side confirmed the ceasefire, noting that it had previously offered multiple Easter truces itself. President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media that “people need a safe Easter and real steps toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to attacks even after Easter.”

It remains uncertain whether the ceasefire will be respected. During previous truces, both sides repeatedly accused each other of continuing attacks. This was the case, for example, during Easter in April 2025, when Vladimir Putin unilaterally declared a one-and-a-half-day halt to hostilities. Despite a decrease in the intensity of fighting at that time, both sides were reported to have violated the ceasefire. Peace talks between the warring parties are at an impasse as the US, which took the role of a mediator in the talks, is mainly concerned about the war with Iran. Currently, the main goal for Russia is to take the whole Donbas region, which Ukraine refuses to abandon.