Putin Declares Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine War—But Skepticism and Strikes Persist Amid Global Scrutiny
In a move that has drawn both cautious hope and sharp skepticism, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in the ongoing war with Ukraine—a conflict that has raged for over three years, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing millions.
The Kremlin declared the 30-hour truce, set to begin at 18:00 Saturday and last until midnight Monday, citing “humanitarian considerations.” Yet within minutes of the announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported fresh Russian drone attacks, casting immediate doubt on Moscow’s sincerity.
A Gesture of Peace or a Tactical Pause?
In a video statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Putin framed the ceasefire as an act of goodwill:
“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.”
Beside him stood Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, a symbolic reinforcement of the order. But Zelenskyy swiftly countered the narrative, revealing that Russian Shahed drones had already been detected in Ukrainian airspace.
“At 17:15, Russian attack drones were revealed in our skies,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that Ukrainian defenses were actively engaging the threats. “This exposes Putin’s true attitude toward Easter—and toward human life.”
Frontline Realities: Trust in Short Supply
The Ukrainian leader’s skepticism was palpable. While acknowledging the ceasefire announcement, he emphasized that Russian artillery fire and assaults had not ceased in several frontline sectors.
“There is no trust in words coming from Moscow,” Zelenskyy stated. “We know all too well how Moscow manipulates. Ukraine’s Defense Forces will respond in kind—silence for silence, strikes for strikes.”
He proposed extending any genuine truce to 30 days, calling it the bare minimum for meaningful confidence-building. “Thirty hours is enough for headlines,” he said. “Thirty days could give peace a chance.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces had repelled Ukrainian troops from Kursk, where Kyiv staged a surprise incursion last year—a reminder that even amid talk of pauses, the war’s momentum shows no signs of waning.
Global Reactions: Trump’s Ultimatum and a Mysterious Minerals Deal
The ceasefire announcement coincided with heightened U.S. involvement in the conflict’s diplomatic theater. Former President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that an 80-page minerals deal with Ukraine would be signed within a week—later clarified by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as likely occurring on April 26.
Details remain scarce, but reports suggest the U.S. has softened its demand for Ukrainian repayment of wartime aid from 300 100 billion dollars.
On Friday, Trump issued a blunt warning: If Russia refuses to engage in good faith, the U.S. will “take a pass” on peace efforts.
“If one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say, ‘You’re fools, you’re horrible people,’ and walk away,” he told reporters. “Hopefully, we won’t have to.”
The Road Ahead: A Test of Intentions
As the world watches whether the Easter truce holds—or collapses like past attempts—the broader question remains: Is this a fleeting gesture or a pivot toward negotiation?
For now, the sounds of war still echo across Ukraine. And as Zelenskyy starkly noted: “Every Russian strike will be met with an appropriate response.”
Final Thought:
In a conflict where words and actions have long been at odds, this ceasefire may prove less a turning point and more another chapter in a war of attrition—one where trust is the rarest commodity of all.
