Image: ln24SA
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine on Saturday, calling for a 30-hour pause in hostilities. The truce, announced on humanitarian grounds, was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Moscow time and extend until midnight on Sunday.
In a televised address to top military officials, Putin ordered all Russian forces to halt military activities for the duration of the truce. However, he emphasized that troops should remain prepared to respond to any violations or provocations.
“We expect Ukraine to reciprocate,” Putin said, while cautioning that Russian forces would defend themselves if necessary.
Despite the announcement, air raid sirens were reported in Kyiv less than an hour before the ceasefire was due to take effect. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the proposal, calling it a political maneuver and accusing Russia of continuing airstrikes in the lead-up to the ceasefire. He also condemned the use of Shahed drones over Ukrainian territory, citing them as evidence of Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that its forces would observe the truce, provided it was equally respected by Ukraine.
The ceasefire announcement comes amid growing pressure from Washington, where officials have warned…read more
Get the latests of our Loveworld News from our Johannesburg Stations and News Station South Africa, LN24 International
Related Posts
Some description text for this item