Easter Ceasefire Collapses Amid Accusations Between Russia and Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine exchanged blame on Sunday, each accusing the other of violating a one-day Easter ceasefire. The truce, declared by President Vladimir Putin, was intended to halt military activity along the front lines. Both sides reported numerous attacks, with the Kremlin stating there was no order to extend the ceasefire.

The Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that Putin had not issued instructions to prolong the ceasefire. In contrast, the U.S. State Department expressed its support for an extension. Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, suggested that Russia's actions in the coming days would reveal its true stance on peace efforts, including a proposed 30-day ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of feigning adherence to the Easter ceasefire, alleging hundreds of artillery attacks on Saturday night and Sunday. He reported 67 Russian assaults between midnight and 8 p.m. local time. Zelenskyy questioned whether Putin had full control over his army or if Russia was uninterested in genuine peace, instead focusing on public relations. He proposed that Russia cease drone and missile strikes on civilian targets for at least 30 days, suggesting that a refusal would demonstrate a commitment to prolonging the war.

Russia's Defense Ministry countered, claiming Ukraine had violated the ceasefire over a thousand times, causing damage to infrastructure and civilian casualties. The failure to uphold the Easter ceasefire highlighted the challenges of achieving a lasting peace. Despite this, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism, suggesting a deal to end the conflict could be reached "this week." On Friday, Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the U.S. would withdraw from peace efforts without clear progress.