“Following Putin’s directive to reduce the attacks, the frequency of strikes and casualties decreased. The root cause of this war and its continuation lies in Russia,” he posted on X.

Russia-installed officials in the partially occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson said that Ukrainian forces continued their attacks.

Merely hours after the ceasefire declaration, Putin participated in an Easter service late Saturday (early Sunday AEST) at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, led by Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and a strong supporter of Putin and the conflict in Ukraine.

According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6pm Moscow time on Saturday (1am Sunday AEST) to midnight on Easter Sunday (7am Monday AEST).

Putin offered no details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover airstrikes or ongoing ground battles that rage around the clock.

His announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are “coming to a head” and insisted that neither side is “playing” him in his push to end the grinding three-year war.