Putin declares temporary Easter ceasefire in war with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a surprising announcement of a temporary Easter ceasefire in the ongoing war with Ukraine, the Kremlin confirmed on Saturday. The conflict, which has been going on for over three years, has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives on both sides.

In a video message posted by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Putin stated, \”Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order that all military actions be stopped for this period.\” He was accompanied by Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov during the announcement.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemed skeptical of Putin’s gesture. Shortly after the ceasefire was declared, Zelenskyy mentioned that air raid sirens were sounding across Ukraine. He expressed his doubts in a statement, saying, \”As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives—at this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine.\”

Zelenskyy continued to provide updates on the situation on the ground, revealing that Ukrainian forces were actively engaged in battles in the Kursk region while holding their positions. He also mentioned that Russian forces had pushed Ukrainian troops out of a foothold in the Kursk region where they had entered unexpectedly last year.

Despite the ceasefire declaration, Zelenskyy indicated that Russian attack drones had been detected in Ukrainian skies, prompting defensive actions to protect the country. He criticized Putin’s true intentions, stating, \”Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.\”

Zelenskyy further disclosed that Russia had previously ignored a proposal from the United States for a 30-day truce, despite Ukraine’s positive response. He emphasized that if Russia genuinely committed to a ceasefire, Ukraine would reciprocate accordingly. He proposed extending the ceasefire beyond Easter to gauge Russia’s sincerity and intentions for peace.

The temporary ceasefire announcement coincided with President Donald Trump’s revelation of an upcoming minerals deal with Ukraine. The details of the agreement remain undisclosed, but recent reports suggest that the U.S. has softened its demands for repayment of aid to Ukraine from $300 billion to $100 billion.

Trump also asserted that the U.S. would disengage from peace efforts for Ukraine if Putin failed to adhere to ceasefire terms. He stated, \”If for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say ‘you’re foolish, you’re fools, you’re horrible people,’ and we’re going to just take a pass.\”

In conclusion, the temporary ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope for peace in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, the true test lies in the implementation and extension of the truce to build trust and pave the way for lasting peace in the region.