Russia and Ukraine on Thursday (April 9, 2026) announced a ceasefire for Orthodox Easter holidays, with Moscow agreeing to a Kyiv proposal to pause all military operations in the over four-year war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to the 24-hour ceasefire proposed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the announcement was made on Thursday night (April 9).
“By the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief…V.V. Putin, in connection with the approaching Orthodox feast of Easter (the Resurrection of Christ), a ceasefire is declared from 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on 11 April until the end of the day on 12 April 2026,” the Kremlin’s statement said. “We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation,” it said.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously signalled Kyiv’s openness to a potential Easter truce. On Thursday (April 9), Zelenskyy said Ukraine has repeatedly stated its readiness for symmetrical steps.
“We proposed a ceasefire this year for the duration of the Easter holidays and will act accordingly. People need an Easter without threats and real progress toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes even after Easter,” he wrote on X.
Orthodox Easter falls on April 12 according to the Julian calendar, which Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches follow.
In 2025, Russia initially rejected a joint US-Ukraine ceasefire proposal during Orthodox Easter holidays. But later, Putin unilaterally declared a 30-hour ceasefire, but both Russia and Ukraine accused the other of breaking it.
Russia and Ukraine continue their military operations on the nearly 1,250-km battlefront, as the US-initiated peace talks made no progress at all on key issues.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s focus has shifted to the West Asian war with Iran and the peace talks scheduled in Islamabad on Friday (April 10).