Just under two days without bombs. Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending what appears to be a conciliatory signal by announcing a ceasefire on the occasion of Orthodox Easter. Moscow’s move was followed by Kiev’s “yes”. While waiting for the good intentions to be implemented, however, we continue to fight.
No bombs for two days
The halt in hostilities will come into force from 3pm Italian time on Saturday the 11th to midnight on Sunday the 12th.
Technically, it was Moscow that announced the truce, quickly receiving Kiev’s approval. “Ukraine has stated several times that we are ready for mirror steps. This year we have proposed a ceasefire for the Easter holiday period and we will act accordingly. People need an Easter without threats and real progress towards peace, and in Russia there is a possibility of not returning to attacks even after Easter,” Zelensly wrote on X.
In recent days, Zelensky himself had proposed an energy truce, against the backdrop of continuous bombing of civilian infrastructure, and the Kremlin had taken its time. According to Moscow, in fact, a truce could have led Kiev to reorganize its forces, in view of further war activities. In the end, however, the Russian leader decided to opt for a ceasefire, albeit a minimal one.
Ukraine has repeatedly stated that we are ready for symmetrical steps. We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays this year and will act accordingly. People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 9, 2026
The news of the Easter truce is a sign of détente, in a phase in which trilateral negotiations between Washington, Kiev and Moscow are expected to resume “soon” (according to Zelensky). There was also a new exchange of bodies of fallen soldiers. Moscow delivered 1,000, resulting in the return of 41 bodies, a Russian parliamentary source told the Rbk newspaper.
The role of Giorgia Meloni
Meanwhile, Zelensky brings Italy into play. In an interview broadcast by Gr1 Rai he also asked Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to make her “important” voice heard to unblock the 90 billion EU aid package in favor of Kiev.
On the European side, in fact, the unresolved issue remains the financing of Ukraine decided at the EU summit last December but for now blocked due to Budapest’s veto, which accuses Kiev of preventing the restoration of the flow of Russian oil to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline on its territory. “Giorgia Meloni – Zelensky said in this regard in the interview with Rai – is a strong leader not only throughout Europe but also in Brussels. She is one of the most explicit voices, especially to help Ukraine. Today we need to unlock the 90 billion in assistance to our country. It depends on many voices and Giorgia’s voice is very important for us”. Furthermore, the prime minister “has good relations with the United States and the United States must put pressure on Russia for a ceasefire and then put an end to this war. The same can be said of Brussels”.
The raids
Meanwhile the raids don’t stop. The Russians have attacked three districts of the Dnipro region in eastern Ukraine in the past few hours. There are two dead and three injured, according to the toll released by local authorities on Telegram. Two more people were injured in Nikopol district.