The announcement from Kyiv came as Russia and Ukraine conducted their largest prisoner exchange since Moscow’s full-scale invasion started over three years ago.
Mr Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting on Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons.
According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6pm Moscow time on Saturday to midnight following Easter Sunday.
Mr 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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said if Russia is genuinely ready to observe a full and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine will mirror that approach and strike only in defence.
He said such a gesture, particularly over the Easter weekend, could reveal Moscow’s true intentions.
Ukrainian servicemen ride in a bus after returning from captivity in a POW exchange in Ukraine (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)
“If a full ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond Easter Day on April 20,” Mr Zelensky said on Telegram.
“That will reveal Russia’s true intentions, as 30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures.”
Mr Zelensky added that, according to military reports, Russian assaults and artillery fire continued along parts of the 600-mile long front line.
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