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• Sun Apr 20 2025

Zelensky says Russian attacks ongoing despite Putin announcing 'Easter truce'

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Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has ordered his forces to "stop all military activity" in Ukraine, as he declared an "Easter truce" until the end of Sunday. He said the 30-hour truce would last until 22:00 BST on Sunday (00:00 Moscow time), adding that Russian forces should be prepared to respond to "any possible violations". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv would adhere to the truce. But he accused Moscow of "trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire" even as "in some places it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine".

"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 said late on Saturday. "Our actions are and will be symmetrical. The proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day silence remains on the table ? the answer to it must come from Moscow," he wrote on X. Zelensky said Ukraine would be ready to extend a truce beyond 20 April, seemingly referring to an earlier proposal from the US for a 30-day ceasefire which Ukraine had already agreed to. Responding to Putin's initial announcement, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on X: "Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a cease-fire. 30 hours instead of 30 days." "Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions. We know his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words," he added. Putin announced the temporary truce at a meeting with his chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov. "Based on humanitarian considerations... the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period," Putin told Gerasimov. "We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions." The Russian defence ministry said its troops would adhere to the ceasefire provided it was "mutually respected" by Ukraine. It is not the first time a pause in fighting has been suddenly announced - a previous attempt at a ceasefire during Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 fell apart after both sides failed to agree on a proposal. Reacting to Putin's truce announcement, a Foreign Office spokesman in the UK said: "Now is the moment for Putin to truly show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion and committing to a full ceasefire, as the Ukrainian government has called for - not just a one day pause for Easter."

Reuters