Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of violating a temporary Easter truce announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, casting doubt on Moscow’s commitment to ending hostilities.
Putin had declared a 30-hour ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter, ordering Russian forces to halt all military operations from Saturday evening until 22:00 BST (00:00 Moscow time) on Sunday. He emphasized that Russian troops should remain ready to respond to any “violations” from the Ukrainian side. The Russian Ministry of Defence echoed this stance, noting that the truce would only hold if it was “mutually respected.”
However, President Zelensky claimed that Russian attacks continued despite the declaration. “If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly – mirroring Russia’s actions,” he posted on X. He added that Ukrainian forces would maintain a symmetrical approach, reiterating their support for an earlier U.S.-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
Zelensky reported ongoing fighting in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions and noted continued use of Russian drones, though he acknowledged a slight reduction in hostilities in some areas. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha criticized the brevity of the truce, saying, “30 hours instead of 30 days,” and warned that Russia’s actions often fail to align with its promises.
The United States, which has been engaging with both Kyiv and Moscow in hopes of brokering peace, has grown increasingly frustrated. President Donald Trump warned that Washington would “take a pass” on further talks unless swift progress was made. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the U.S. would not allow negotiations to drag on endlessly, stressing that it had “other priorities.”
The UK Foreign Office called on Russia to prove its sincerity by agreeing to a full ceasefire, not a brief pause. A similar ceasefire attempt during Orthodox Christmas in 2023 collapsed due to mutual distrust and lack of coordination.
As the war continues into its third year, hopes for sustained peace remain elusive amid conflicting actions and rhetoric.
