Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that his forces will adhere to a surprise Easter truce declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is set to last until midnight tomorrow. This decision comes amidst the sound of air raid sirens in Kyiv, highlighting the complexities of the situation.
This truce represents a notable pause in the ongoing conflict that has persisted for three years. Nevertheless, just hours following the announcement, air raid sirens echoed across the Ukrainian capital, prompting President Zelensky to accuse Russia of continuing its artillery attacks and assaults on the frontline.
In an effort to foster goodwill, both Russia and Ukraine have conducted a significant exchange of prisoners, with each side reportedly returning over 240 captured fighters.
In a related development, the United States expressed its willingness to withdraw from negotiations if no substantial progress was achieved. “Today from 6 PM (3 PM Irish time) to midnight Sunday (9 PM tomorrow), the Russian side announces an Easter truce,” President Putin stated during a televised meeting with Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Responding to this declaration, President Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s commitment to the truce and proposed extending it beyond the designated timeframe. However, he didn’t shy away from expressing skepticism, having already accused Russia of disregarding previous promises.
As the evening unfolded, air raid sirens continued to sound across Kyiv and several other regions, causing concerns about the reality of the truce.
Despite the announcement, President Zelensky reported that “Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided.” President Putin had justified the truce as motivated by “humanitarian reasons,” urging Ukraine to comply yet advising Russian troops to prepare for potential violations.
In a social media post, Zelensky responded thoughtfully: “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 highlighted that just days prior, President Putin had rejected a proposal for a comprehensive ceasefire, instead attempting to secure a temporary peace.
“If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20,” Zelensky remarked, suggesting that “30 days could give peace a chance.” This sentiment was echoed by Oleksandr Prokudin, governor of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, who noted that several Russian drone attacks had occurred since the announcement of the truce. “Unfortunately, we do not observe any lull in the fighting,” he stated.
Soldiers stationed in the eastern city of Kramatorsk reacted to the announcement with skepticism. A soldier named Dmitry remarked, “Mr. Putin might do this to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we don’t trust Russia.” His comments reflect a broader sentiment of disbelief, especially in light of Russia’s recent decision to end a moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy targets. Both sides have previously accused each other of failing to honor ceasefires.
President Putin emphasized that the latest truce proposal would demonstrate “how sincere the Kyiv regime’s readiness, its desire and ability to observe agreements and participate in a process of peace talks.” However, past attempts to establish ceasefires, such as those during Easter in April 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in January 2023, ended in disappointment as both parties failed to agree.
In the midst of this turmoil, Ukraine and Russia confirmed the mutual return of 246 soldiers previously held as prisoners of war in a swap facilitated by the UAE. President Zelensky mentioned that the cumulative number of returned POWs has now reached 4,552. Russia also claimed to have regained control of the last village still under Ukrainian control in its Kursk region, a strategic move as Ukraine had anticipated leveraging this territory in ongoing talks.
The complexities of these developments underscore the fragile nature of peace initiatives in the region, making it clear that trust remains a significant hurdle in the path toward resolution.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
