Kiev: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of creating a false appearance of respecting the Easter ceasefire on Sunday, saying Moscow continues to launch attacks after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral temporary armistice in Ukraine.
“As of Easter morning, we could say that the Russian army was trying to make a general impression of the ceasefire, but in some places it did not give up on personal attempts to promote and cause Ukraine’s losses.”
Despite Putin’s Easter ceasefire on Saturday, Zelensky said on Sunday morning that Ukrainian troops recorded 59 Russian shelling and five attacks, attacked in various areas along the frontline and dozens of drones went on strike.
Zelenskyy said in a later latest news: “Although Ukraine announced a symmetric Russian approach, Russian shelling and drone attacks have increased since 10 a.m.
But, he said, “at least it’s a good thing to not have an air raid sirens.”
“In fact, Putin either did not have full control of his army or proved that in Russia they had no intention of taking real action to end the war, only interested in favorable PR coverage.”
Zelenskyy said Russia must fully comply with the ceasefire conditions and reiterate Ukraine’s proposal to extend the truce for 30 days, starting on Sunday.
He said the proposal was “still on the table” and added: “We will act as it is practically in the local area.”
Zelenskyy said Saturday night that some areas have been quieter since the ceasefire, claiming that it shows Putin was the “real cause” of the war.
He wrote on X: “Putin issued an order to reduce the intensity of the attack, strikes and killings. The only source of this war and its extension were in Russia.”
Officials from Hesen, a partly occupied Ukrainian region, said Ukrainian troops continued their attack.
Hours after the ceasefire was announced, Putin attended Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ in Moscow late Saturday, led by his ancestor Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox church, Putin and vocal supporters of the Ukrainian war.
According to the Kremlin, after Easter Sunday, the ceasefire will continue from Saturday to midnight (GMT 2100 GMT).
Putin did not provide details on how to monitor the ceasefire or whether it covers an angry air strike or ongoing ground war.
His announcement was made after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were “in a dilemma” and insisted that both sides “played” him in an effort to end the Three Years’ War.
