The Kremlin’s declaration of a brief Easter ceasefire in Ukraine immediately ignited widespread doubt, with Ukrainian officials reporting continued hostilities from Russian forces despite the announcement.
Vladimir Putin announced a halt to “all hostilities” between Saturday evening and Monday morning, intending it as a test of Kyiv’s sincerity regarding a genuine desire for peace. However, just hours after the declaration, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Russian assault operations were ongoing along the frontline, accompanied by continued artillery fire.
“If Russia is now suddenly ready to actually join the format of complete and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act in a mirror image,” declared Zelenskyy, advocating for a 30-day truce instead – “Thirty days can give peace a chance.” He stressed that this extended period was necessary to assess true intentions, highlighting a history of such pauses being used strategically by Russia.
The timing of Putin’s announcement further fueled skepticism; it followed warnings from the Trump administration regarding patience with Russia and occurred shortly after Russia reported reclaiming territory near Ukraine’s Kursk region. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed cynicism, stating, “Russia can agree at any time to the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which has been on the table since March.”
Despite the announcement, the ground reality presented a stark contrast. Kherson’s regional military administration reported a building fire caused by drone strikes, alongside attacks on Urozhayne and Stanislav. “Unfortunately, we do not observe any ceasefire,” stated Oleksandr Prokudin, “The shelling continues and civilians are under attack again.”
Air raid sirens sounded across Kyiv, prompting warnings of imminent Russian drone attacks, and Ukrainian troops confirmed no reduction in fighting along multiple front lines. The situation mirrored past experiences, with Ukraine previously rejecting temporary ceasefires offered by Putin – notably during Orthodox Christmas 2023 – believing they masked ulterior motives.
At the same time, a significant prisoner exchange took place, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, involving the return of 277 Ukrainian soldiers and the reciprocal release of 246 Russian servicemen, alongside wounded individuals on both sides.
However, US-led efforts to broker peace were facing an impasse. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned of a potential shift in strategy if no progress materialized, reflecting ongoing difficulties in securing Russia’s cooperation. The conflict continues along the eastern front line with limited territorial gains for either side, and Ukraine remains wary of such temporary truces.
