Putin's Easter Ceasefire: Hope for Peace?

0:00Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 32-hour ceasefire across Ukraine for the orthodox Easter weekend. The order from the Kremlin directs Russian forces to post-fighting starting at 4 p.m. Saturday local time and hold through the end of Sunday. This comes right after Ukrainian President Balota Mirzalinsky called for a holiday break on attacks against energy sites. He floated the idea through the United States, which has been trying to broker talks as the war drags into its fifth year. Ukraine has not responded yet to the news. Last Easter, Putin tried a similar 30-hour halt, but both sides quickly blamed each other for violations and it fell apart fast. The Kremlin emphasized that troops must stay alert for any Ukrainian provocations while observing the pause. They hope Ukraine follows suit, though Russia has turned down longer truces in favor of a full-piece deal. With U.S.-led negotiations stuck and attention shifting to the Middle East, the front mine remains active over 1,250 kilometers.

1:02Eyes are on whether this brief low brings any real calm that wraps Sydney news today brought to you with AI.