Ukraine Rejects Putin’s Truce: Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a brief Easter ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine, but the announcement has been met with skepticism in Kyiv. According to Putin, all hostilities would halt between 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday and midnight on Monday. Putin stated that he assumes the Ukrainian side will follow his example, and the truce would help Russia determine how sincere Kyiv is about wanting to reach a ceasefire.
Ukrainian Response
However, Ukrainian officials quickly accused Russian forces of continuing to fight, despite the declaration. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian assault operations and artillery fire continued in some parts of the front line. Zelensky has responded to the truce declaration with skepticism, pointing out that Putin still has not agreed to a US-led proposal for 30 days of ceasefire.
Ceasefire Violations
Ukrainian officials reported hundreds of instances of Russian shelling since the ceasefire was announced. Between 6 p.m. local time on Saturday and midnight, there were 387 instances of shelling and 19 assaults by Russian forces. Zelensky stated that the Russian army is attempting to create the general impression of a ceasefire while continuing isolated attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine.
Still on Ukraine Rejects Putin’s Truce
Attacks on Civilians
The head of Kherson’s regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, reported that a high-rise building in the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson had caught fire after being struck by drones. Russian drones also attacked the villages of Urozhayne and Stanislav. Prokudin said that the shelling continues and civilians are under attack again, adding that “Russia has nothing sacred.”
Skepticism about Putin’s Intentions
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed skepticism about Putin’s intentions, stating that 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. Sybiha added that there is a long history of Putin’s statements not matching his actions.
Easter Addresses
While Putin attended an Orthodox Easter service at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Zelensky used his Easter address to call on Ukrainians not to lose faith. Zelensky said, “Evil may have its hour, but God will have his day.” He added that Ukrainians should strive for a day of peace, a day of life, and a day that lasts for centuries.
Prisoner Exchange
In a separate development, the two sides conducted one of the largest prisoner exchanges of the conflict on Saturday. According to Zelensky, 277 captured Ukrainian soldiers were returned home. The Russian Defense Ministry said it had swapped 246 captured Ukrainian soldiers for the same number of Russian troops, and that as a “gesture of good will” Russia also exchanged 31 wounded Ukrainian troops for 15 wounded Russian servicemen.
US-Led Peace Efforts
US-led peace efforts are stuttering as Moscow continues to stall, having previously rejected the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the US was ready to “move on” within days from efforts to bring peace to Ukraine if there were no tangible signs of progress.
Ongoing Conflict
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, with fighting ongoing along the eastern front line. While Ukraine has recently managed to push Russian troops back from areas around Toretsk, Russia has been inching forward near Kupyansk, Lyman, and Kurakhove. The situation remains complex and volatile, with both sides suffering significant losses.
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