Vladimir Putin has declared a 30-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that Russian attacks are ongoing, even after the truce was supposed to start. Putin announced the ceasefire would take effect from 6 PM on Saturday until midnight on Easter Sunday, Moscow time. However, Zelenskyy reported continued assaults from Russian forces just hours later.
In his announcement, Putin emphasized that the truce was made with humanitarian concerns in mind and urged Ukrainian forces to follow suit. He ordered Russian troops to halt military actions during this period but also instructed them to remain prepared for any potential violations.
Zelenskyy responded by stating that Russian military operations were still active in several areas, and artillery fire had not diminished. He expressed skepticism about trusting Moscow’s intentions, highlighting that a recent U.S. proposal for a more extended ceasefire of 30 days had gone unanswered by Russia for over a month.
He noted that Ukraine had shown a willingness to accept the American proposal but felt that Russia had ignored it. Zelenskyy added that if Russia was genuinely ready for a lasting ceasefire, Ukraine would reciprocate and consider extending the truce beyond Easter.
This situation echoes a similar event from January when Putin announced a 36-hour truce for Orthodox Christmas, which Zelenskyy viewed as a strategic maneuver rather than a genuine peace effort.
Meanwhile, the two nations conducted a significant prisoner exchange on the same day, with Ukraine bringing home 277 of its service members, while Russia received 246 soldiers in return. This exchange reflects the ongoing complexities of the conflict, which has persisted for over three years.
As tensions remain high, Zelenskyy and his officials continue to stress the importance of actions over words, wary of Putin’s past promises not being fulfilled. The international community watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough in negotiations to end the hostilities.