Russia Honors Unilateral Truce Announced by Putin for Easter Day

In 2025, Orthodox Easter coincided with Catholic Easter. That hasn’t happened in eleven years. Starting 18:00 Saturday, April 19, until midnight Monday, April 21, Russia unilaterally suspended all military action in Ukraine, declaring a “large-scale Easter truce” announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. An official statement, released by the Kremlin, said Russia believes that the Ukrainian side “will follow our example and support the temporary ceasefire.”

Just after the start of the unilateral ceasefire announced by Putin, a new prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine took place: “As a result of negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates, 246 Russian servicemen have been returned home from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In exchange, 246 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were handed over. As a goodwill gesture, 31 wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over in exchange for 15 wounded Russian servicemen in need of urgent medical care,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Following the announcement of the Easter truce in Ukraine, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that “every sign towards peace is important.” According to the Italian diplomatic chief, by announcing the Easter truce in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent an important signal to the United States and President Donald Trump. During an appearance on Italian television channel Rete4, Tajani said the truce “could signal a reduction in tensions.” According to Tajani, efforts should be made for the sake of peace between Russia and Ukraine – just as Italy is striving to achieve a “nuclear deal between Iran and the USA. We also want peace to be restored in Israel and the Gaza Strip.”