Putin announces "Easter Staet" in Ukraine conflict, amid Trump's warning | Today news

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a one -sided Easter arms in Ukraine on Saturday (April 19), just as US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Moscow about increasing tensions in the conflict. Putin instructed his powers to stop hostilities from 18:00 Moscow time (1500 GMT) until midnight Sunday. The announcement came during a television address in which Putin spoke directly to Russia’s head of general staff, Valery Gerasimov, setting out the conditions of the break. “An Easter Stall” “today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian team announces an Easter resistance,” Putin said in television remarks. The move is meant to honor the religious meaning of the Orthodox holiday, which has traditionally been observed with reflection and peace. The hope of reciprocal calm while the ceasefire is one -sided, Putin expressed the hope that Ukraine would reflect the gesture. However, the Russian president also made it clear that his army should remain vigilant. He instructed Gerasimov to prepare for possible offenses. Trump is reaching ultimatum after warring parties The weapons statement came a few hours after the US president delivered a serious warning to Moscow and Kyiv, stating that the United States would withdraw to mediate peace talks if there was no visible progress soon. “Soon,” Trump replied when asked if the US would leave the process. ‘No specific number of days, but fast. We want to get it right. ‘ He added that if Russia or Ukraine made negotiations unenforceable, the US would ‘just take a pass’. “You are foolish, you are horrible people” in exceptionally sharp language, Trump has criticized potential treats on the peace process: “Now, if one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say, ‘You’re foolish. You are foolish. You are horrible people ‘ – and we’re just going to take a pass.’ Asked if he believes Putin is standing still, Trump said, “I hope … I’ll let you know soon.” He also emphasized: ‘No one plays me. I’m trying to help … I know when people play us, and I know when they’re not. ‘ Trump previously boasted that he could end the war within 24 hours if he was in charge, an allegation he later clarified as sarcastic. Nevertheless, the president repeated his commitment to finding a diplomatic solution while expressing frustration over the protracted conflict. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began with the full scale invasion of Russia in February 2022, has now entered its fourth year. First Published: 19 Apr 2025, 07:47 PM IST