Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark the Orthodox Easter holiday, following a similar proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calling for a pause in fighting.

According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday (9 a.m. ET) and remain in effect through the end of Sunday.

In a statement, Russian authorities said their forces had been instructed to halt combat operations across all front lines during this period. At the same time, troops were ordered to remain on alert in case of potential provocations or renewed attacks.

The Kremlin expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate the move, stating it expects Kyiv to “follow the example of the Russian Federation.”

Zelensky had earlier indicated that Ukraine had proposed an Easter truce through U.S. mediators, emphasizing the need for a temporary halt in hostilities.

“Ukraine has repeatedly called for a pause in fighting,” Zelensky wrote on X. “We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays and will act accordingly. People deserve an Easter without threats and a genuine step toward peace. Russia now has an opportunity to avoid resuming strikes after the holiday.”

The United States continues to play a mediating role between Moscow and Kyiv as the war approaches its fifth year.

However, previous ceasefire attempts have largely failed to hold. A similar truce declared by Putin last Easter quickly broke down, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Efforts led by Washington to negotiate a broader end to the conflict have so far fallen short, as key disagreements persist — particularly Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede territory.

Currently, Russia controls roughly 20% of internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, most of the Luhansk region, and significant portions of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Moscow continues to insist that Ukraine formally relinquish these regions — a condition Kyiv has repeatedly rejected — leaving negotiations at an impasse.