US President Donald Trump expressed hope that Russia and Ukraine could reach an agreement this week, following the expiration of a ceasefire proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ceasefire, which aimed to last for 30 hours over the Easter weekend, was met with accusations from both sides about violations.
Putin ordered his forces to halt military operations along the frontline starting Saturday evening. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Russian troops broke the ceasefire more than 2,000 times on Sunday alone. Reports indicated explosions in the eastern city of Mykolaiv and air raid alerts in Kyiv, highlighting ongoing tensions.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump mentioned that he hoped for a deal between the two nations, suggesting that it could lead to increased business opportunities with the US. He emphasized that the negotiations were reaching a critical point and insisted that neither side was deceiving him in the pursuit of peace.
Zelenskyy criticized Russia for failing to uphold its ceasefire promise, stating that it either lacked control over its military or was not genuinely interested in peace. He proposed a new initiative, asking Russia to refrain from strikes on civilian infrastructure for at least 30 days, with the option to extend this period. He warned that a refusal would indicate Russia’s intention to continue the conflict.
On the Russian side, the defense ministry accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire more than 1,000 times, claiming that Ukrainian forces targeted Russian positions and infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties. The Kremlin stated that there were no plans to extend the ceasefire.
Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, indicated that the US might withdraw from efforts to broker peace if there were no signs of progress soon. They noted that the situation was becoming urgent, with Trump asserting that both sides needed to make a genuine effort to end the prolonged conflict.
Last month, Ukraine had accepted Trump’s proposal for a 30-day truce, but Putin did not agree to a full ceasefire, citing unresolved verification issues. Both nations have accused one another of breaching the terms of the temporary halt in attacks.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that could bring an end to the ongoing conflict.