Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary « Easter truce » in the three -year conflict in Ukraine, which will last until midnight Sunday.
« For humanitarian reasons, from 18 to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side announces a Easter truce, » Putin said in a television statement published by Kremlin. The statement has been translated. « During this period, I ordered to leave all the fighting. Suppose the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to reflect possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions. »
Putin for the first time announced the cessation of fire at a meeting with the Head of Staff Velary Gerasimov, said the Kremlin Press Service.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a translated statement that the cessation of fire is imposed « for humanitarian purposes and that it will be observed by the Unified Russian group of troops (forces) as long as it is respected by the Kiev regime. »
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the announcement as « Putin’s next attempt to play with the lives of people », saying that an « aerial alert is spreading through Ukraine territory » due to Russian drone strikes recorded in heaven at 5:15.
Vyacheslav prokofyev / ap 
« Ukrainian air defense and aviation have already begun to work to protect. » Shaheeds « In our sky is Putin’s true attitude to the life and life of people, » Zelenskyy said.
« Shaheeds » can be a reference to Shahed drones, which have been widely used by Russia during the war.
The Ukrainian leader did not confirm if he observed the proposed truce.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said that Ukraine expected « actions, not words » by Putin.
« Putin has made statements about his alleged preparation for a ceasefire, » Sybiga wrote on social media, adding: « We know that his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words. »
Previous attempts to keep the CEESFires for Easter in April 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 were not implemented after both parties could not agree. Last month, Ukraine agreed to the President Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire the complete and unconditional fire of 30 days, only for putting it down.
Russia and Ukraine make an exchange of prisoners
On Saturday, Russia and Ukraine also exchanged prisoners mediated by the United Arab Emirates, informed the Russian State News Agency.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that 246 members of the Russian service were returned from Kiev -controlled territory, and that as a « gesture of goodwill », 31 war prisoners injured Ukrainians in exchange for 15 injured Russian soldiers who need urgent medical care.
Zelenskyy said that 277 Ukrainians « the warriors have returned home from Russian captivity. » He thanked the United Arab Emirates for mediate the exchange.
It was the largest exchange since Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago.
The announcement follows the frustration of the Trump administration
The announcement came the next day Said United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio The administration of President Trump was ready to « continue » of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine if no progress was made in the coming days. Rubio made the comments in Paris after Reference conversations Between the United States, Ukrainian and European officials.
« Now we reach a point where we have to decide whether this is possible or not, » Rubio told journalists while leaving Paris. « Because if not, I think we will only continue. »
« It’s not our war, » Rubio added. « We have other priorities to focus on us. » He said that the United States administration wants to decide « in a matter of days. » Another meeting is expected next week in London.
Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP/Getty 
Later Friday, Sr. Trump echoed Rubio’s frustrations At the pace of conversations. When asked about Rubio’s comments on Friday, Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that « quite complex » negotiations were ongoing between the United States and Russia, although he said there were no direct conversations between Mr. Trump and Putin for the coming days.
Struggling before the cessation of fire
On Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that his forces pushed the Ukrainian forces from one of the last remaining points in the Kursk Russian region. Russian forces took control of the people of Orshnyya, on the border with Ukraine, said the ministry. Gerasimov said that Russian troops had resumed 99% of the territory captured by Ukraine.
« In the areas of the Kursk region where the Ukraine armed force mounted a raid, the main part of the territory … It is now released. This is 1,260 square kilometers, 99.5 percent, » said Gerasimov in Putin.
Associated Press could not immediately verify the claim. In the same statement where he reacted to the cessation of fire, Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian forces « continued their activity » and are « maintaining their positions » in the Kursk region. He also said that military forces « advanced and increased our control area » in Belgorod, a Russian city about 24 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border.
According to Tass, Russia continues to struggle to push the Ukrainian forces of the village of Gornal, about 7 kilometers south of Olashya.
« The Russian military still does not have to push the Ukrainian armed forces of Gornal … in order to completely release the Kursk region. The fierce fight in the settlement is underway, » said the agency, quoting Russian security agencies.
In other novelties, Ukraine Air Force reported that Russia shot 87 drones and decorations in the last wave of attacks overnight during Saturday. He said that 33 of them were intercepted and that 36 were lost, they had probably been electronically blocked.
The Russian attacks damaged the operations in the Odesa region and caused fires in the Sumy region during the night, said on Saturday the Ukraine State Emergency Service. Fires were contained and victims were not reported.
In the meantime, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that its air defense systems demolished two Ukrainian drones at night during Saturday.
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