Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine as an ‘Easter truce.’ 

The Kremlin said all ‘military operations will stop from 6pm today (4pm UK time) until Monday. 

Ukraine has not yet responded to Russia’s offer but Russia has said it hopes it ‘will follow our example.’ 

A statement read: ‘Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. 

‘I order all military actions to be stopped for this period.

‘At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive action.’ 

Yesterday, Putin’s troops pushed Ukrainian forces from one of their last remaining footholds in Russia’s Kursk region, officials said. 

According to Russia´s Defense Ministry, its forces took control of the village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine

“Units of the `North´ military group have liberated the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region during active offensive operations,” the ministry said in a statement. The Associated Press was unable to immediately verify the claim and there was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, some seven miles (11 kilometers) south of Oleshnya.

“The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of Gornal … in order to completely liberate the Kursk region. Fierce fighting is underway in the settlement,” the agency reported, citing Russia security agencies.

Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year.

This is a breaking story.