In the midst of the Russia-Ukraine war that has been going on for the last four years, the situation has once again taken a new turn. Russian President Vladimir Putin has suddenly made a big announcement and ordered a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for 32 hours. The move will be implemented on the occasion of Orthodox Easter. But the question is, is this a real peace initiative or another strategic move? Amidst the continuous devastation, crumbling cities and stalled diplomacy, this announcement is once again giving rise to both hope and doubt.
According to the Kremlin, this ban will start at 4 pm on Saturday and will last till the end of Sunday. During this period, instructions have been given to stop military activities on all fronts. This step comes after the appeal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he asked to stop the attacks during Easter. Zelensky specifically said that at least energy-related facilities should not be attacked during this period. He had put forward this proposal through America, which is playing the role of mediator between the two countries.
Is Russia’s decision different?
Let us tell you that the ceasefire announced by Russia is a little ahead of Ukraine’s demand. The Kremlin has said its forces have been ordered to completely stop fighting in all directions. However, it has also been said that soldiers should be ready to respond in case of any provocation. The Kremlin has expressed hope that Ukraine will also follow a similar ceasefire. But till the time of writing the news, there was no official response from Kiev on this.
this has happened before
This is not the first time that a temporary ceasefire has been announced during Easter or any festival. Last year also a similar ceasefire of about 30 hours was declared, but it was soon broken. At that time both the countries had accused each other of violations.
Why are peace efforts stuck?
There has been no major progress so far in the ongoing peace talks mediated by Western countries. The US and Ukraine had suggested a 30-day long ceasefire, but Russia did not accept it. Russia says any lasting peace agreement requires a comprehensive resolution of the entire conflict, not just a temporary halt. It is noteworthy that the war is continuing on a front approximately 800 miles long. Neither side has got a decisive lead. Efforts for dialogue are also stalled at the moment and the conflict continues. It is not yet clear how effective this Easter ceasefire will be. Given past experiences, it is also possible that this ban may not last for very long.