Ukraine has responded warily to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of an Easter ceasefire, saying it would only reciprocate if Moscow upholds a genuine cessation of hostilities.
The statement from Kyiv came shortly after Russia and Ukraine completed their largest prisoner exchange since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began over three years ago. The Kremlin said the ceasefire would run from 6pm Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) after Easter Sunday, citing humanitarian reasons.
However, no further details were provided by the Kremlin regarding how the truce would be enforced, or whether it would include halting airstrikes and ground assaults, which continue to rage across the frontline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was open to mirroring a full and unconditional ceasefire if Moscow genuinely adhered to one.
“If a full ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond Easter Day on April 20,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram. “That will reveal Russia's true intentions, as 30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures.”
He added that reports from Ukrainian forces indicated that Russian shelling and assaults persisted across the 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) frontline.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also expressed scepticism, saying Ukraine had earlier accepted a US proposal for a 30-day truce in March, which Russia declined.
“Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days,” Sybiha wrote on X. “Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions.”
Putin’s ceasefire declaration followed a statement from US President Donald Trump on Friday, who said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were “coming to a head” and insisted neither side was “playing” him in his efforts to end the war.
Largest prisoner exchange since 2022
Amid the ceasefire announcement, both countries carried out a significant exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) on Saturday. Russia’s Defence Ministry said 246 Russian service members were returned from Ukrainian captivity, while Ukraine confirmed the release of 277 of its “warriors”.
Ukraine said 31 wounded Ukrainian POWs were exchanged for 15 wounded Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care. Both Kyiv and Moscow expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for mediating the exchange.
According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, many of the Ukrainian soldiers released were born after 2000.
In northern Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, relatives gathered outside a hospital to welcome the returnees. Among them was 48-year-old Nataliia Lohvynchuk, who reunited with her son Ihor after nearly three years. He had been captured during the siege of Mariupol in 2022 and had lost 40 kilograms in captivity.
“It still doesn't feel real,” Ihor said softly. “We're not really here yet. We all made it back, but we're still not here.”
His mother, embracing him tightly, made an emotional appeal: “We call on the entire world, on every country — help us bring all our boys home.”
This was the 63rd exchange since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, and Ukraine said a total of 4,552 military and civilian citizens have now been returned.
Moscow claims gains in Kursk region
Meanwhile, Russia claimed its forces have retaken nearly all the territory in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops had launched a rare cross-border incursion last year.
Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Putin that 1,260 square kilometres — or 99.5 per cent — of the occupied area had been “liberated”.
Zelenskyy, however, said Ukrainian forces continued their operations within Kursk and had established positions further inside Russian territory in an attempt to prevent Russian offensives on Ukraine’s Sumy region.
The Associated Press said it was unable to independently verify Ukraine’s claim. Russian state media agency Tass reported continued fighting in the village of Gornal, 11 kilometres south of Oleshnya.
Elsewhere, Ukraine’s air force reported a fresh wave of Russian drone attacks overnight, stating that 87 drones and decoys had been launched. Of these, 33 were intercepted, while another 36 were electronically jammed.
Fires sparked by Russian strikes were also reported in the Sumy region, and farms were damaged in Odesa, though no casualties were noted, Ukraine’s emergency service said.
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