The Ministry said its troops had been instructed about the ceasefire and would adhere to it, provided it was “mutually respected” by Ukraine. Putin told Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of Russia’s General Staff, during the televised address to have his forces ready to “repel possible violations of the truce”.

Russia on Friday had abandoned a moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy targets after each side accused the other of breaking a supposed deal without any formal agreement in place.

The latest truce proposal will show “how sincere is the Kyiv’s regime’s readiness, its desire and ability to observe agreements and participate in a process of peace talks,” Putin said.

Trump has failed to win concessions from Putin

Previous attempts at holding ceasefires for Easter in April 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in Jan 2023 collapsed after both sides failed to agree on them. The proposal comes after months of Mr Trump pushing both Moscow and Kyiv to agree to a truce. He has so far failed to extract any major concessions from the Kremlin.

Richard Kemp, a former British Army officer, said the truce would allow Putin to falsely paint Mr Zelensky to Mr Trump as the aggressor if the fighting continued. He said: “He is likely attempting to seize the narrative to appease Trump and allow him to declare some kind of negotiating victory.

“The Kremlin’s emphasis on bracing for Ukrainian ‘provocations’ indicates his intent to seize on or manufacture any such incidents to proclaim that Zelensky is not serious about peace and parry the ball back into Kyiv’s court, so inciting further demands on Ukraine from the White House,” he added. 


Only a few kilometres from the front lines in the east, Ukrainian soldiers shared their leader’s distrust of the proposed ceasefire.

Dmitry, a 40-year-old soldier, said: “I think this man [Putin] is evil, a murderer, but he can do it. He might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we don’t trust. These 30 hours will lead to nothing. The killings of our people, and theirs, will 100 per cent continue.”

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We urge Russia to do the same – not just a one-day pause. That will create space for talks on a just and lasting peace. We deplore the Kremlin’s bombing of Ukrainian cities. Now is the moment for Putin to show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion.”

Cap Shyrshyn, of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, told The Telegraph: “We have encountered similar situations in the past when Russia made statements about a truce or a ceasefire, yet they consistently disregarded the statements [and tried] to blame us.

“I don’t trust Russians, and I believe they will fabricate scenarios, similar to the numerous instances where they have publicly expressed their desire to end the war, only to claim that Ukrainian officials fail to adhere to their agreements and threaten to respond by attacking civilians”.