The Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a ceasefire from 16:00 on 11/4 (20:00 Hanoi time) until the end of 12/4 for the upcoming Orthodox Easter, instructing Russian forces to cease all combat operations on all fronts during this period.

The Kremlin added that Moscow remains ready to respond to any adversary provocations. "We expect Ukraine to do the same as Russia", the statement read.

Ukrainian soldiers prepare to deploy drones during training near Zaporizhzhia on 23/3. *AFP*.

Hours later, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has repeatedly affirmed its readiness for "reciprocal measures."

"'We proposed a ceasefire for this year's Easter and will act accordingly. People need an Easter without threats and with real progress towards peace. Russia has an opportunity to prevent the conflict from re-escalating after Easter', he said."

President Zelensky previously announced he had conveyed the holiday ceasefire proposal to Russia via a US intermediary. The Kremlin did not mention this proposal.

Russia and Ukraine have previously agreed to short, limited ceasefires, but both sides quickly accused the other of violating the agreement.

The latest ceasefire announcement comes as Ukrainian forces recently repelled Russian troops on the southeastern front, and Moscow's advance has slowed since late 2025, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Beyond Ukrainian counteroffensives, analysts attribute Russia's slowed momentum to its soldiers being blocked from accessing the Starlink satellite internet system, as well as Moscow's ban on the social media network Telegram. These tools were frequently used by Russian soldiers for communication, especially to coordinate drone attacks.

However, ISW noted Ukraine faces disadvantages on the Donetsk front, specifically near the two strategic cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Russia's conditions for a peace agreement include Ukraine's withdrawal from these two cities, while President Zelensky has rejected any land concessions, leaving negotiation efforts deadlocked.

The *AFP* news agency reported that Russia currently controls an area equivalent to more than 19% of Ukraine's pre-2014 territory.

By Pham Giang (*AFP*)