Putin Declares 'Easter Truce' In Russia-Ukraine War Amid US Proposal, Ceasefire To Stay Till Sunday Midnight

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday declared an Easter truce in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which will take effect from Saturday evening and continue until midnight on Sunday.

This announcement follows a proposal from the United States, which was presented to European leaders during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Paris earlier this week.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

"Today, from 1800 (1500 GMT) until midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side declares an Easter truce," Putin said in a televised address, speaking with Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov, as reported by AFP.

The Russian president added that he expected Ukraine to follow suit but instructed Gerasimov to ensure Russian forces were prepared to respond to any breach of the truce by Kyiv.

During the same televised meeting, Gerasimov informed Putin that Russian troops had reclaimed over 99 percent of the territory previously seized by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, following an incursion launched in August.

"In the areas of the Kursk region where the Ukrainian armed forces carried out an incursion, the majority of the territory... is now liberated. That's 1,260 square kilometres, or 99.5 percent," Gerasimov stated.

US' Peace Initiative

According to Bloomberg, the United States has put forward a peace proposal that includes the possibility of easing sanctions on Moscow, as part of a broader framework aimed at facilitating a resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The plan reportedly outlines the conditions necessary to end hostilities and suggests that sanctions relief could be offered in exchange for a sustained ceasefire.

Despite the renewed diplomatic push, Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked on Friday that the Trump administration may consider "moving on" from its peace efforts if no progress is achieved. However, US Vice President JD Vance expressed greater optimism during remarks in Rome the same day, stating he remained hopeful about the prospects for ending the conflict.

The details of the US proposal were reportedly shared with European allies during Thursday's meetings in Paris.