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Eastern Europe Conflict: The Kremlin stated today that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not given directives to prolong the Easter ceasefire in Ukraine. This announcement follows a day of traded accusations between Russia and Ukraine regarding breaches of the initially declared truce.
Ceasefire Accusations Fly as Tensions Remain High
Both Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Sunday of violating the one-day Easter ceasefire announced by President Vladimir Putin. Each side claimed hundreds of attacks from the other, and the Kremlin confirmed there was no order to extend the cessation of hostilities.
President Putin had instructed Russian forces engaged in the ongoing three-year conflict to halt all military actions along the frontline until 9 pm UK time on Sunday. This directive was intended to observe the Orthodox Easter holiday.
Ukraine Alleges Extensive Ceasefire Breaches
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Russia was merely feigning adherence to the Easter ceasefire. He stated that Russian forces had continued numerous artillery strikes on Saturday night and persisted with further assaults on Sunday.
President Zelensky accused Russia of over 2,000 violations of what he termed President Putin’s Easter truce. Despite this, he proposed extending a suspension of aerial attacks, noting the absence of air raid alerts across Ukraine for the day.
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“The Russian army has contravened Putin’s ceasefire more than 2,000 times,” Zelensky declared via social media. He further noted the absence of “air raid alerts today” and suggested “to halt any strikes using long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure for a minimum of 30 days.”
Zelensky argued, “If Russia does not concur with such a measure, it will demonstrate their intent to persist in actions that solely destroy human lives and prolong the war.”
Earlier, President Zelensky questioned Russia’s commitment to peace, stating, “Either Putin lacks complete command over his military, or the situation underscores that Russia has no genuine aspiration to end the war, and is only concerned with obtaining favorable public relations.”
Russia Counters with Claims of Ukrainian Provocations
The Russian Defence Ministry reported that Ukraine had breached the ceasefire over 1,000 times, resulting in infrastructure damage and civilian casualties.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces targeted Russian positions 444 times. Furthermore, Russia counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks, including incursions into Crimea and the Russian border regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod.
“These actions have resulted in fatalities and injuries among the civilian population, in addition to damage to civilian properties,” the Russian Defence Ministry stated.
Conflicting Reports on Ground Activity
Earlier on Sunday, the Ukrainian military indicated a decrease in frontline activity. Several Russian military bloggers also corroborated reports of a substantial reduction in activity along the front lines.
Reuters stated they were unable to independently verify the battlefield accounts provided by either side.
Implications for Potential Peace Negotiations
The apparent failure to uphold even an Easter ceasefire underscores the significant challenges facing efforts to achieve a lasting resolution to the Ukraine conflict. This situation highlights the difficulties anticipated by figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump, who aims to secure an enduring agreement to end what he has described as the “bloodbath” in Ukraine.
The United States has indicated it might withdraw from peace brokering efforts unless tangible progress is evident soon, as stated by Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on Friday.
Trump, who aspires to be recognized as a peacemaker, has consistently cautioned against the escalating risks of the war. His administration now characterizes the conflict as a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia, mirroring Moscow’s perspective.
Previous Ceasefire Proposals and Sticking Points
Last month, following Ukraine’s acceptance of a 30-day truce proposed by Trump, Putin asserted that critical verification issues remained unresolved. Both Moscow and Kyiv have previously agreed to a moratorium on attacks targeting energy infrastructure and naval assets, though each party accuses the other of violations.
Zelensky Signals Readiness to Extend Truce Amidst Continued Conflict
President Zelensky reiterated Kyiv’s willingness to extend the ceasefire by 30 days. However, he emphasized that if Russia persisted in fighting on Sunday, Ukraine would reciprocate.
“The Ukrainian army is acting – and will continue to act – in a fully similar manner,” he communicated on social media platform X.
Putin instructed his chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, to be prepared to respond “in full” should Kyiv violate the truce.
Russia currently controls nearly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
International Reactions to Ceasefire Declaration
Prior to attending an Orthodox Easter service, President Putin stated that the ceasefire would serve to assess Ukraine’s readiness and capacity to implement peace. He expressed gratitude to Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and leaders of the BRICS nations for their mediation initiatives.
The European Union offered a cautious response to Putin’s ceasefire declaration, asserting that Moscow possesses the ability to halt the war immediately if it desires to do so.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric reaffirmed the United Nations’ support “for genuine endeavors towards a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace that fully respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”
Easter Message from Ukrainian President
This year, Easter coincides for both Orthodox and Western churches. President Zelensky encouraged Ukrainians to maintain hope for the eventual return of peace.
“We understand what we are defending. We understand what we are fighting for,” he affirmed in a social media video, dressed in traditional Ukrainian attire and positioned in front of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.