Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Kremlin forces of violating a 30-hour Easter Sunday truce declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and reiterated his proposal to increase the ceasefire for an additional month.
Russia’s protection ministry responded that Ukraine wasn’t adhering to the short-term truce, and had shelled Russian positions a whole bunch of occasions since Saturday night time. Neither aspect’s claims might be verified.
Posting on social media, Zelenskiy stated Russia was making an attempt to create “the general impression of a ceasefire” and producing “favorable PR coverage.”
He cited 59 instances of shelling and 5 assault actions by Russian models in varied frontline areas on Sunday morning, based mostly on an early-morning report from Armed Forces commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. In an replace, Zelenskiy stated there’d been a rise in shelling and using kamikaze drones within the late-morning hours.
Probably the most lively operations have been within the neighborhood of Pokrovsk and Siversk in Ukraine’s east, the place Kremlin forces proceed to make use of heavy weaponry, he stated.
A brand new report by Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi on the frontline as of 12:00 p.m. on Easter Day.
Regardless of Ukraine declaring a symmetrical method to Russian actions, a rise in Russian shelling and using kamikaze drones has been noticed since 10:00 a.m. – with FPV drone…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 20, 2025Nonetheless, neither aspect reported any of the form of missile assaults or large-scale drone swarms which have taken place repeatedly within the battle, which is now effectively into its fourth 12 months.
“Our soldiers everywhere respond in the way the enemy deserves in specific combat circumstances,” Zelenskiy stated in his publish. “Ukraine will continue to mirror Russian actions.”
Putin ordered the pause in hostilities, lasting little greater than a day, throughout a televised assembly on Saturday with the army’s chief of the final employees, Valery Gerasimov. The truce is because of finish at midnight Moscow time.
Zelenskiy dismissed the pronouncement as “yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives.” Even because the Russian chief spoke, air raid alerts have been spreading throughout Ukraine, with assault drones detected within the skies, he stated on X.
Learn extra: Trump Says US to ‘Take a Pass’ If Russia or Ukraine Balk on Deal
“If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20,” he wrote. “That is what will reveal Russia’s true intentions — because 30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance.”
Putin’s transfer got here a day after the US warned that it could quickly abandon efforts led by President Donald Trump to finish the battle in Ukraine if there isn’t significant progress towards a ceasefire.
Trump, who on the marketing campaign path vowed that he might rapidly finish the battle, has expressed growing frustration with the tempo of negotiations with Putin. Nonetheless, he’s proven dedication to get a deal accomplished inside 100 days of his Jan. 20 inauguration, which falls on April 30.
Learn extra: US Is Open to Recognizing Crimea as Russian in Ukraine Deal
The US is open to recognizing Crimea – which Russia has occupied since 2014 — as a part of Russia underneath a peace settlement with Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing folks aware of the matter. A US framework offered to allies on Thursday included easing sanctions on Moscow within the occasion of an enduring ceasefire.
Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha on Saturday stated his nation has already agreed “unconditionally” to the US proposal for a “full interim ceasefire for 30 days.” In distinction, Russia has “imposed various conditions and increased terror against Ukraine, civilians, and civilian infrastructure throughout the country,” Sybiha stated on X.
Ukraine’s place stays clear and constant: again in Jeddah on March 11, we agreed unconditionally to the U.S. proposal of a full interim ceasefire for 30 days.
Russia refused, and the Russian refusal to the USA has already lasted 39 days. As a substitute, the Moscow…
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) April 19, 2025Russia has tied its settlement to a cessation of hostilities to sanctions reduction and a suspension of arms deliveries to Ukraine, amongst different issues.
The previous few weeks have seen a pair of particularly lethal Russian missile assaults on civilian targets in Ukraine, together with on Kryvih Rih, Zelenskiy’s house city, and the northeastern metropolis of Sumy.
On the identical time, Russian troops, which management about 20% of Ukraine, proceed to inch ahead on the battlefield. Moscow stated Saturday it ejected Ukrainian forces from a village within the Russian area of Kursk; Gerasimov stated Saturday that Russia has recovered 99.5% of territory that Kyiv’s troops at one level held in Kursk.
In the meantime, Russia and Ukraine every swapped 246 prisoners of battle every on Saturday, and Russia additionally let out 31 wounded Ukrainian troopers in return for 15 Russian troops needing pressing medical care, in response to Russia’s protection ministry. The trade, brokered by the United Arab Emirates, was the newest such deal that’s seen a number of thousand troopers launched.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
