Ministry of Defense said he gave instructions on all group commanders in the area of ”Special Military Operation”, Euphemism used by Kremlin for the War
(Folhapress) – Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed on Saturday (19) that his troops perform a ceasefire in Ukraine because of Easter and asked Kiev to respect the truce.
“Today, from 18h (12 noon in Brasília) until midnight on Sunday (18h in Brasília), the Russian party declares a truce of Easter,” Putin said during a televised meeting with Russian Staff Chief Valeri GueraSimov.
“Based on humanitarian considerations, the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order the suspension of all military activities during this period,” said the Russian leader.
The Ministry of Defense said it had given instructions on ceasefire to all group commanders in the area of “Special Military Operation”, Euphemism used by Kremlin for the war.
The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, said in the X network that he will respect the truce. “If Russia is suddenly willing to really compromise … Ukraine will act as a result, reflecting Russian actions.”
Earlier, however, he said the Ukrainian air defense was repeling drone attacks amid the ad and that it showed Putin’s real attitude.
Already the Ukrainian chancellor, Andrii Sibiha, said he waited for “facts, no words” from Moscow. According to Sibiha, Kiev’s position remains the same about agreeing with the US proposal of a 30-day ceasefire, as suggested at a Saudi Arabia meeting in March. Now, according to the chancellor, Putin wants “30 hours [de trégua] instead of 30 days ”.
At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Russia and Ukraine held a prisoners on Saturday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a publication in the Telegram messaging app, said 277 Ukrainian military personnel had returned home after the Russian captivity.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 246 military personnel were delivered by Kyiv. He added that 31 other injured prisoners of war were delivered to Ukraine and 15 of his own injured soldiers were also returned by Kyiv.
Russian prisoners are in neighboring Belarus, where they receive medical and psychological care.
Also on Saturday, Putin told Gerasimov that Russia appreciates the efforts of US, China and Brics countries to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
On Friday (18), US President Donald Trump said he could give up trying to resolve the Ukraine War if Moscow and Kiev make it very difficult to close the conflict. “Let’s go [se não for possível a negociação]”Said reporters.
Trump stated, however, that this did not mean the American abandonment of peace dialogue, but that the US saw the situation reach a “critical point.” The Republican began his mandate by saying he could resolve the war in 24 hours.
The day before, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had reinforced this position that the United States would abandon efforts to mediate a peace agreement unless there were clear signs of progress soon.
“Look for [possível]we are inside. If not, we have other priorities, ”he said shortly after meeting in the French capital with Emmanuel Macron and representatives of the United Kingdom and Germany to discuss the American plan to suspend the war.
The dialogue with the three largest European powers ends weeks of difficult dialogues on the subject. The prospect of the US forces a very favorable peace agreement to Putin was seen with concern for the European Union, which announced measures to increase investments in the bloc’s defense.
The tone of Rubio’s ultimatum competes with the content of the Memorandum that USA and Ukraine on the exploration of rare minerals, something the US president said he faced as a kind of financial support given to Kiev since 2022.
Last Sunday (13), Russia forces promoted one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the Ukraine War, when at least 34 people died in Sumi, the capital of the homonymous province in the northeast of the country invaded by Vladimir Putin in 2022.
