Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, citing humanitarian reasons, during a Kremlin meeting.
The ceasefire will last from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday until midnight Sunday, coinciding with Easter celebrations, according to the Kremlin.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said afterward that 246 Russian soldiers were also returned from Ukraine to Russia in exchange for 246 Ukrainian prisoners of war, describing the swap “as a result of negotiations.”
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said on X that "277 warriors" had returned home from captivity, accompanied by a video of the group each draped in Ukrainian flags upon their return.
Putin’s announcement comes a day after President Donald Trump said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were “coming to a head.”
NBC’s Raf Sanchez has the latest.
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