VLADIMIR Putin has declared a truce with Ukraine over Easter.
The Russian president claims he has ordered his military to halt all battlefield action from tonight up until midnight on Monday, the Kremlin announced.
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Putin made the statement during a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.
The despot said: “Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce.
“I order all military actions to be stopped for this period.”
The Easter truce is scheduled to begin tonight at 6pm (4pm UK time) and continue through to Monday, according to the Kremlin.
Kyiv is yet to respond to the apparent declaration of peace.
But Moscow has said it is assuming the Ukrainians “will follow our example”.
Despite the Kremlin’s claims, Putin warned his troops will remain “ready to repel” any actions he deems as a violation of his temporary truce.
It is the first time Russia has allowed for a period of peace since Putin’s illegal invasion first kicked off the war in February 2022.
An “Easter truce” between the two nations has been on the cards before.
Just months into the barbaric full-scale invasion, a proposal was made to halt the fighting between April 21 and 25.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the terms for a temporary truce which would allow for the “opening of a series of humanitarian corridors” to allow civilians to safely leave.
However, Russia refused the truce as they believed it would only be used to allow Kyiv to regroup and refocus.
The latest Kremlin announcement comes after Putin met with US officials earlier this week.
Trump’s Secretary of State Marc Rubio warned that talks over ending the war needed to progress “very quickly”.
He also said the US will walk away from brokering peace talks between Ukraine and Russia unless there is a deal done within days.
His comments come after President Donald Trump issued a blistering warning to Putin to “get moving” last week.
The Republican was also questioned over his relationship with Putin on Friday.
He denied the Kremlin is playing him after they have repeatedly ignored Trump’s calls for both sides to agree to a long-term truce.
“Nobody is playing me. I’m trying to help,” the president said.
He also told reporters at the White House he is now expecting to see “enthusiasm” from both sides as ceasefire talks ramps up.
The world has also been pressuring Russia to accept a deal in order to allow Ukraine to recover from the three years of bloodshed.
The UK has announced it is considering sending troops to Ukraine for a period of years in order to keep the peace.
France has also revealed they may “mobilise civilians” to counter a looming Russian threat.
Trump’s warning to Putin
By Patrick Harrington, foreign news reporter
PRESIDENT Trump has become increasingly frustrated by Russia’s refusal to end the war.
Ahead of his envoy, Steve Witkoff, meeting Putin this week, Trump warned the Russian leader to “get moving” and sign a full ceasefire deal.
Ahead of Friday’s meeting, Trump said: “Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war.
“A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!”
Then, on Saturday night, Trump doubled down with a stern message for Putin.
He said: “I think Ukraine-Russia might be going OK. And you’re going to be find out pretty soon.
“There’s a point at which you have to either put up or shut up. We’ll see what happens. But I think it’s going fine.”
This week’s US-Russia meeting was the third of its kind this year.
There had been speculation that the US would set a deadline for Russia to sign a deal – with April 30 chalked as a possible red line.
A ceasefire deal known as the Black Sea Truce was brokered by the US at the end of March.
The warring sides agreed to halt all strikes in the Black Sea, as well as any action against energy or infrastructure targets.
Zelensky has since accused Ukraine of violating the terms of the truce.
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