Russia announces Easter ceasefire with Ukraine, prisoner exchange planned

Russia announced a temporary Easter ceasefire beginning Saturday afternoon through Sunday, with President Putin ordering troops to observe the pause while remaining combat-ready. The Kremlin framed the pause as humanitarian and suggested longer-term peace negotiations could follow if Ukraine makes concessions on Donbas. This marks a rare moment of de-escalation in the ongoing conflict after over two years of fighting. The ceasefire's success depends on whether both sides honor the agreement and whether it signals genuine willingness to negotiate or serves primarily as a propaganda gesture.