Putin Declares Easter Truce in Ukraine, Both Sides Accuse Violations
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 30-hour Easter truce in Ukraine, beginning the evening of April 19, but both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of violating the ceasefire almost immediately.
The Kremlin announced that all Russian forces would halt military activities from 6 p.m. Moscow time (3 p.m. GMT) on April 19 until midnight on April 21. Putin said the pause was intended to demonstrate Kyiv’s sincerity in pursuing peace talks. The Russian Defense Ministry stated the ceasefire would be respected “provided it is mutually observed.”
Ukrainian officials responded with skepticism. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Putin’s word could not be trusted, citing previous ceasefire breaches. Kyiv had earlier agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day truce, which Moscow had rejected.
Air raid sirens were reported in Kyiv shortly after the ceasefire was scheduled to begin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had violated the ceasefire more than 2,000 times by April 20 morning. Although he noted there were no air raid sirens or missile strikes reported on April 20, Zelenskyy urged Moscow to extend the suspension of drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure for at least 30 days.
Russia’s Defense Ministry countered by accusing Ukrainian forces of breaching the truce over 1,000 times, including more than 900 drone attacks. It also reported attacks on the Russian border regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod, resulting in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
Despite the accusations, frontline activity reportedly decreased during the truce period. Ukrainian military spokesperson Viktor Trehubov said, “It is decreasing, but it hasn’t disappeared.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on April 20 that the truce would not be extended past midnight. The U.S. Department of State said it would welcome a longer cessation of hostilities.
Analysts in Moscow described the situation on the battlefield as “much calmer” and noted that Russia may currently favor negotiations, given its recent military gains.
As Easter services took place, hopes for a lasting peace remained slim. Residents in Kyiv, still hearing explosions during the supposed truce, expressed little faith that Moscow’s offer was genuine.
Ukraine and Russia, both historically Orthodox Christian nations, typically mark Easter as a major religious holiday. Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, escalating tensions that had been building since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Despite international condemnation and multiple attempts at peace talks, fighting has continued into its third year.
Luis Apolo Staff Reporter teen/1746585075/1613367592
1. What reason did Russian President Vladimir Putin give for announcing the ceasefire?
2. How did Ukraine respond to the announcement of the Easter truce?
3. Did the Kremlin agree to extend the truce beyond April 21?
4. What did analysts in Moscow say about the state of the battlefield during the truce?
1. How did Ukraine respond to the announcement of the Easter truce?
2. Should international organizations play a stronger role in enforcing ceasefires?
3. What are the risks of trusting ceasefire agreements during an ongoing war?
4. What steps could help build more lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia?
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 30-hour Easter truce in Ukraine, beginning the evening of April 19, but both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of violating the ceasefire almost immediately.
Despite the accusations, frontline activity reportedly decreased during the truce period. Ukrainian military spokesperson Viktor Trehubov said, “It is decreasing, but it hasn’t disappeared.”
