Russia declares temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter; military is prepared to retaliate in case of any provocation, says Putin

MOSCOW: In a surprise move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a unilateral short-term Easter ceasefire in Ukraine. The ceasefire, which came into effect at 8:30 PM IST today, will remain in place until 2:30 AM IST the day after tomorrow.

Putin stated that he expects Ukraine to respect the ceasefire as well. However, Ukraine has not officially responded to the announcement. Putin also warned that the Russian military is prepared to retaliate in case of any provocation from the Ukrainian side.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump recently said that unless there is progress in peace talks aimed at ending the war, mediation efforts may be abandoned. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

On April 13, a powerful Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraine resulted in the deaths of 32 people, including two children, and injured 84 others. The death toll is expected to rise.

The strike occurred at 10:15 AM local time, targeting a densely populated area in the northern city of Sumy. Two ballistic missiles hit near Sumy State University, causing extensive damage to more than 20 buildings. It is considered one of the deadliest Russian attacks in Ukraine this year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned the assault and called for severe international action against Russia.