For the first time since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a bilateral ceasefire. Vladimir Putin decreed a three-day truce on Friday, April 10th, for the occasion of Orthodox Easter, celebrated on Sunday, April 12th. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accepted the offer, while expressing "deep mistrust" regarding Moscow's adherence to this commitment. "We accept, but we remain vigilant. Every Ukrainian soldier will keep his weapon in hand," he stated.
This truce comes in a particular strategic context. On the ground, front lines have been largely static for months, with marginal territorial gains on both sides. However, Ukraine has developed a significant advantage in the drone domain: its forces now possess technical and tactical superiority in drone warfare, according to UPI analysts. Furthermore, Zelensky made a major revelation: Ukrainian military personnel have been deployed in "several Middle Eastern countries" to shoot down Iranian Shahed drones during the war in Iran, sharing their expertise gained on the Ukrainian front.
Zelensky's revelation about Ukrainian operations in the Middle East opens a new chapter in the conflict. Kyiv is now positioning itself as an exporter of anti-drone defense know-how – a skill forged in blood over four years of war against Russian Shaheds. Zelensky also announced security cooperation talks with Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain for the sharing of technology and expertise in air defense.
On the Russian side, the truce is interpreted as a political gesture aimed at domestic opinion and the international community, rather than a step towards peace. The Kremlin seeks to present itself as a reasonable actor, in a context where the Middle East war is monopolizing global diplomatic attention. Observers note that Putin had already proposed ad hoc ceasefires during previous Orthodox holidays, without them being effectively respected.
In parallel, Zelensky called for the complete reinstatement of sanctions on Russian oil. "A ceasefire has begun in the Middle East and the Gulf. I expect the sanctions on Russian oil to be fully reinstated, as they were before," he stated. The United States had partially lifted certain sanctions on Russian oil as part of negotiations related to the Iranian crisis – a concession that deeply worries Kyiv.
