1 month ago
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VLADIMIR Putin has declared a truce with Ukraine over Easter.
The Russian president claims he has ordered his meatgrinder forces to halt their battlefield onslaught from tonight up until midnight on Monday, the Kremlin announced.
AFPVladimir Putin has agreed to a truce with Ukraine over Easter[/caption]
APFighting in Ukraine has been ongoing for over three years[/caption]
Pacific Coast NewsUkrainian soldiers line up for a drill under the ‘Contract 18-24’ project[/caption]
Putin made the statement during a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.
The despot said: “Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce.
“I order all military actions to be stopped for this period.”
Despite the tyrant saying his decision is due to “humanitarian considerations”, his war has led to the death of countless men and women.
Children and innocent civilians have been caught up in Russia‘s horror campaign of violence across the past three years.
One of the most haunting strikes ordered by Putin came less than a week ago.
The heartless dictator killed 34 people – including young kids – in a Russian missile attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday.
These constant assaults on Ukraine have raised serious fears over what it may take for Putin to ever stop the conflict.
His suggestion of an Easter truce will be seen a positive step towards a much needed peace in Eastern Europe – even if it is only set to last for a few days.
Putin’s suggested deal is scheduled to begin tonight at 6pm (4pm UK time) and continue through to Monday, according to the Kremlin.
Kyiv is yet to respond to the apparent declaration of peace.
Minutes after Putin’s statement, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky released a post on X where he again slammed Russia for “playing with human lives”.
There was no mention of the truce proposal in the message.
But a brazen Moscow has said it is assuming the Ukrainians “will follow our example”.
Putin also warned his troops will remain “ready to repel” any actions he deems as a violation of his temporary truce.
It is the first time Russia has allowed for a period of peace since Putin’s illegal full scale invasion first kicked off the war in February 2022.
An “Easter truce” between the two nations has been on the cards before.
Just months into the barbaric attack, a proposal was made to halt the fighting between April 21 and 25.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the terms for a temporary truce which would allow for the “opening of a series of humanitarian corridors” to allow civilians to safely leave.
However, Russia refused the truce as they believed it would only be used to allow Kyiv to regroup and refocus.
The latest Kremlin announcement comes after Putin met with US officials earlier this week.
Trump’s Secretary of State Marc Rubio warned that talks over ending the war needed to progress “very quickly”.
He also said the US will walk away from brokering peace talks between Ukraine and Russia unless there is a deal done within days.
His comments come after President Donald Trump issued a blistering warning to Putin to “get moving” last week.
The Republican was also questioned over his relationship with Putin on Friday.
He denied the Kremlin is playing him after they have repeatedly ignored Trump’s calls for both sides to agree to a long-term truce.
“Nobody is playing me. I’m trying to help,” the president said.
He also told reporters at The White House he is now expecting to see “enthusiasm” from both sides as ceasefire talks ramps up.
The world has also been pressuring Russia to accept a deal in order to allow Ukraine to recover from the three years of bloodshed.
Britain’s Sir Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron have been leading the way in European support for Ukraine in the previous months.
Both have called on Putin to “stop playing games” and come to the table so ceasefire terms can be fairly hashed out.
The UK has announced it is considering sending troops to Ukraine for a period of years in order to keep the peace.
France has also revealed they may “mobilise civilians” to counter a looming Russian threat in the future.
Trump's warning to Putin
By Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter
PRESIDENT Trump has become increasingly frustrated by Russia’s refusal to end the war.
Ahead of his envoy, Steve Witkoff, meeting Putin this week, Trump warned the Russian leader to “get moving” and sign a full ceasefire deal.
Ahead of Friday’s meeting, Trump said: “Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war.
“A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!”
Then, on Saturday night, Trump doubled down with a stern message for Putin.
He said: “I think Ukraine-Russia might be going OK. And you’re going to be find out pretty soon.
“There’s a point at which you have to either put up or shut up. We’ll see what happens. But I think it’s going fine.”
This week’s US-Russia meeting was the third of its kind this year.
There had been speculation that the US would set a deadline for Russia to sign a deal – with April 30 chalked as a possible red line.
A ceasefire deal known as the Black Sea Truce was brokered by the US at the end of March.
The warring sides agreed to halt all strikes in the Black Sea, as well as any action against energy or infrastructure targets.
Zelensky has since accused Ukraine of violating the terms of the truce.
Avalon.redDonald Trump has ramped up the pressure on Russia in recent weeks[/caption]
ReutersA building in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, burning after being hit by a Russian drone strike on Friday[/caption]
Demonstrators protest against Putin and his illegal invasion and war threats
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