Putin declared an Easter truce, Zelensky agrees. Will it last at least 32 hours this time?

On Wednesday evening, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 32-hour truce in the war in Ukraine — from 4:00 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday, April 11, until the end of Sunday, April 12. The reason is Orthodox Easter. Although Ukraine moved several church holidays to the Gregorian calendar in 2023, the date of Easter continues to be calculated according to traditional church rules tied to the Julian calendar — this year believers in both countries are therefore celebrating it on the same day. The General Staff was ordered to halt all combat operations along the entire front line. PBS News ↗

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded within a few hours. "Ukraine has repeatedly declared its readiness for reciprocal steps. We proposed a truce for the Easter holidays and will act accordingly," he said. He also added that "people need an Easter without threats and real progress toward peace" and that "Russia has a chance not to return to hostile actions after Easter." RTÉ News ↗

The Easter truce, however, is not a novelty — and past experience is not encouraging. Putin also declared a short-term truce for Orthodox Easter 2025. Both sides subsequently accused each other of violations. In January 2023, Moscow unilaterally announced a 36-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas — Kyiv called it "hypocrisy" and fighting continued. In April 2022, the UN proposed an Easter truce, which Russia rejected. So far, none of the short-term truces has grown into a more lasting reduction in violence. CBS News ↗

Skepticism is also backed by military analyses. According to observers, past pauses in fighting have been used to regroup forces and replenish supplies. The front line stretches approximately 1,200 kilometers, and combat operations continued even during previous declared truces. Moreover, most of them were unilaterally declared by Moscow — Kyiv often did not officially recognize them as legitimate. The Washington Post ↗

The broader context is equally complicated. Peace talks led by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, a businessman close to President Trump who is involved in diplomatic contacts between Washington and Moscow, have stalled in recent weeks. Moscow rejects the 30-day unconditional truce proposed by the U.S. and Ukraine, and insists on a comprehensive solution involving territorial concessions. According to diplomatic sources and media, Washington has warned Kyiv that if there is no progress, attention will shift to the Middle East. RFE/RL ↗

Earlier in April, Zelensky proposed a so-called "energy truce" — a mutual halt to attacks on energy infrastructure. Russia did not respond to the proposal. Instead, according to Zelensky, Moscow responded with a massive attack on April 1, launching 339 drones at Ukraine, including Shahed and Gerbera types. According to the General Staff, Ukrainian air defense shot down or otherwise neutralized 298 of them. The attacks hit industrial facilities in Lutsk and Khmelnytskyi, injuring at least 14 people. Kyiv Post ↗

Key questions of the peace negotiations remain unanswered. Moscow demands that Ukraine recognize Russian control over parts of Donbas. Kyiv rejects any territorial concessions and insists that the most sensitive issues can only be resolved at a direct summit — a format Moscow has not yet accepted. Al Jazeera ↗

The war in Ukraine is entering its fifth year. The Easter truce is a gesture, not a turning point — and history shows that a gesture without a verification mechanism quickly falls apart. The question is whether these 32 hours of silence will become at least a symbol that dialogue is possible — or just another line on the list of broken promises.