The United Nations has taken note of Russia's announcement of a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine over the Orthodox Easter weekend, a UN spokesperson said Saturday, reiterating calls for a durable and comprehensive peace aligned with international law and the UN Charter. "We have consistently called for a durable ceasefire in Ukraine, and reiterate our support for meaningful efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that fully upholds Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity," said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in a statement. The remarks followed Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of a 30-hour unilateral ceasefire, which began at 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday and is set to end at midnight on Sunday. "For humanitarian reasons, the Russian side is declaring an Easter (Sunday) ceasefire today. ... I order a halt to all military operations for this period," Putin said in a televised statement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded that Kyiv would act in a "mirror manner," signaling conditional adherence depending on Russia's behavior on the ground. The ceasefire comes amid mounting international pressure for de-escalation and growing concerns over the humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict, which began in February 2022 and has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread destruction across Ukraine. — Agencies
