Putin Orders 30-Hour Easter Ceasefire, Ukraine Urges Extension

Freed Ukrainian prisoners hug after their exchange at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on April 19.Photographer: Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP/Getty Images

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By Henry Meyer

April 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM UTC

Updated on

April 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM UTC

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Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 30-hour pause in hostilities in Ukraine that will cover Easter Sunday, though Ukraine downplayed it as theatrics as it urged a month-long halt in fighting.

Russia’s truce took effect at 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday is slated to end at midnight Sunday, Putin said at a televised meeting with the military’s chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov.