RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral ceasefire in its war against the West-backed fascist regime in Ukraine starting from 6:00 pm on Black Friday up to midnight of Easter Sunday.
A press statement from the office of Putin said that early on Saturday, President Putin, also Russia’s Supreme Commander-in-Chief, summoned General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defence, for a briefing on the situation along the entire line of contact in Eastern Ukraine.
Russia was forced launch a preemptive ‘special military operation’ (SMO) against Ukraine in February 2022, to finally stop the ongoing genocide of the Russian-speaking population living in the east of the country that has been ongoing since 2014.
Gerasimov said Russian forces remained “proactive in their effort to achieve the special military operation’s objectives. All six army groups are currently on the offensive along 11 theatres of action.”
He added Ukrainian forces who invaded Russia’s Kursk region in August 2024 under the guidance of British and NATO forces have been practically ejected with 99.5 percent—1,260 square kilometers– of the invaded territory now back in Russian hands.
“There are two sections left where combat action carries on: one is near Oleshnya, the other is Gornal. They are located near the Ukrainian border,” Gerasimov added.
Satisfied with the report, Putin reflected on the meaning of Easter and said he would like to wish
“a happy Easter to everyone in our country and around the world who celebrates, observes and respects this holiday.”
He added: “Guided by humanitarian motives, the Russian side announces an Easter ceasefire from 6 pm today to 12 am Monday (Moscow time).
“I hereby order all military operations ceased for this period. We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example.”
Putin, however, reminded Gerasimov to inform Russian troops to be on guard to repel repel possible ceasefire violations and provocations, as well as any aggressive acts on the part of Ukraine’s fascist troops.
“We are well aware of the fact the Kiev regime, as you reported to me, violated agreements on refraining from targeting energy infrastructure facilities more than a hundred times.
“Therefore, I ask you to be extremely attentive and focused to be ready to strike back in full.”
“You and I agreed on this earlier,” Putin reminded Gerasimov.
“Our troops, group commanders, needed to receive my final instructions to proceed with the execution of what we agreed upon. They now have them,” he said.
Putin said the ceasefire would also demonstrate to the world whether Ukraine, headed by former comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, would reciprocate.
“Our decision on the Easter truce will demonstrate whether the Kiev regime is sincere, ready, willing and able to comply with the agreements,” Putin said.
The surprised announcement came as US President Donald Trump made known that his patience on the war has now run thin.
Trump boasted even during the US presidential campaign period last year that he can end the war in Ukraine in “one day” after he takes office. He stressed the conflict would not have happened if he is US president.
Trump cited the massive loss of life on both sides and the scale of the destruction as his only reason in trying to stop the war.
Zelensky and his Banderite advisers, however, made it known they are unwilling to stop the war by offering terms detached from reality and conducting attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
This, despite an agreement with Trump and Putin last month to spare each country’s energy facilities last March, as Putin and Gerasimov noted.
In a press briefing at the White House, Trump said he is considering of “taking a pass” on Ukraine, noting he just inherited the mess from Democrat President Joe Biden.