Ukraine war live: Trump denies being ‘played’ by Putin as Russia launches overnight attack
Guardian1 day ago
Putin Declares 30-Hour Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine
Above: Vladimir Putin during Russian-Qatari talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace on April 17, 2025. Image copyright: Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
The Easter truce demonstrates Russia's commitment to humanitarian considerations and openness to peace negotiations to end the conflict. Putin's goodwill gesture would allow citizens practicing Orthodoxy in Ukraine to attend services to celebrate a core tenet of Christianity: the resurrection of Christ.
Anti-Russia narrative
The timing of the truce — following a massive wave of Russian attacks and coinciding with international pressure — suggests this may be a tactical move rather than a genuine peace gesture, reminiscent of previous temporary ceasefires that Russia used for military repositioning.