Putin Proposes Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine, Selenskyj Remains Doubtful
In a recent announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a ceasefire for Russian troops engaged in the conflict in Ukraine, coinciding with the Easter holiday. The proposed ceasefire is set to commence on Saturday at 5:00 PM CEST and last until Sunday at 11:00 PM CEST, a move Putin attributed to humanitarian considerations. He urged Ukraine to reciprocate and observe the ceasefire during this period.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj responded with skepticism to Putin's initiative. On social media, he expressed concerns regarding what he termed as Putin's manipulation of the situation, noting that air raid alarms were sounding across various regions of Ukraine mere moments before the ceasefire was to take effect. Reports indicated that Russian drones were spotted in Ukrainian airspace just 45 minutes before the announced ceasefire, prompting Ukraine's air defense forces to engage.
In his comments, Selenskyj criticized the timing of the ceasefire announcement, suggesting that the presence of drones contradicted any genuine intent for peace. He refrained from stating whether Ukraine would adhere to a ceasefire over the Easter period.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha echoed Selenskyj's sentiments, asserting that trust in Putin's promises is unwarranted. He emphasized that Ukraine would focus on actions rather than words. Sybiha reiterated Ukraine's stance, recalling that on March 11, the country had agreed to a U.S.-proposed unconditional ceasefire for 30 days, contrasting it with Putin's 30-hour ceasefire proposal.
Putin, during a televised meeting with General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov, expressed hope that Ukraine would follow Russia's lead in observing the ceasefire. He instructed Russian commanders to remain prepared for any violations or provocations from Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that orders regarding the ceasefire had been issued to commanders in conflict zones, emphasizing that the ceasefire was conditional on Ukraine's compliance.
Uncertainty remains regarding whether the Ukrainian government was informed ahead of the ceasefire announcement. Diplomatic discussions led by the United States aimed at de-escalating the conflict have reportedly stalled, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning that he would cease peace efforts if no progress is seen soon.
In related developments, Gerasimov reported on the situation in the Kursk border region, where Ukraine had initiated an offensive last August. He claimed that over 99% of the territory had been reclaimed by Russian forces.
On Easter Saturday, Russia and Ukraine conducted another exchange of prisoners of war, with 246 soldiers from each side returning to their respective forces at an undisclosed location near Belarus. Additionally, 31 wounded Ukrainian soldiers were exchanged for 15 injured Russian soldiers requiring urgent medical attention. This exchange was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, marking another instance of prisoner swaps that have occurred throughout the ongoing conflict, which has persisted since Russia's invasion began in February 2022.
President Selenskyj noted that more than 4,552 Ukrainian servicemen had returned home through these exchanges. Just days prior, Ukraine and Russia had also exchanged hundreds of deceased soldiers' remains, with Ukraine receiving 909 bodies. This exchange involved fallen soldiers from various battlegrounds, including the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv.
Since the outset of the war, Putin has stated his desire for a resolution, although he insists that Ukraine must not join NATO and that Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions be recognized as prerequisites for peace.