Zelenskyy responds to Putin's Easter truce announcement

On 9 April 2026, Putin announced a 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Easter, the Kremlin said. France 24 wrote that Kyiv had proposed the same. Zelensky responded that he was ready for mirror steps, and Reuters wrote that he agreed.

Zelensky also named the US as a possible venue for a meeting with Putin and said talks with Russia were delayed but that he is ready to meet Putin. He said the US overlooks Russia's role in helping Iran target bases and that he tells Trump 'he's not always right'. Vance called Zelensky's comments on Orban 'completely scandalous', and Zelensky accused Vance of not understanding the situation in Ukraine. Gazeta.ru wrote that Zelensky called on the EU to create a military bloc against Russia.