Zelenskyy Dismisses Putin's Truce as "PR Exercise" While Orthodox Easter Celebrations Proceed Under Shadow of War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced Russia's unilateral Easter ceasefire as a mere "PR exercise" as both sides traded accusations of violations during Orthodox Easter celebrations. The temporary truce, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin and scheduled to last from Saturday evening until midnight Sunday, quickly unraveled amid reports of ongoing hostilities across the frontlines.
The Ceasefire Announcement
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the Easter truce on Saturday, citing "humanitarian considerations" as the primary motivation. "Today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce," Putin stated in a video released by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he appeared alongside Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. "I order that all military actions be stopped for this period," he added Fox News1.
The announcement came at a time of increasing pressure from the Trump administration for progress in peace negotiations. Analysts suggest the timing indicates a tactical move rather than a genuine step toward de-escalation, with Putin apparently hoping to demonstrate Russia's openness to diplomacy NBC News2.
Ukraine's Response
President Zelenskyy responded with skepticism, characterizing the ceasefire as insincere. "In practice, either Putin does not have full control over his army, or the situation proves that in Russia they have no intention of making a genuine move toward ending the war, and are only interested in favorable PR coverage," Zelenskyy stated The Guardian3.
In a carefully worded response aimed at maintaining support from the Trump administration while protecting Ukrainian interests, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine would reciprocate only if Russia genuinely adhered to the ceasefire terms. "If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia's actions," he explained. "Silence in response to silence, defensive strikes in response to attacks" New York Times4.
Continued Hostilities
Despite the declared truce, evidence quickly emerged of ongoing military operations. Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported a significant increase in Russian shelling activities since Sunday morning, with the Russian military doubling its deployment of kamikaze drones and conducting at least 26 assaults between Saturday midnight and Sunday noon The Guardian3.
Video footage from the battlefield appeared to confirm Russian artillery fire over the village of Uspenivka, with white smoke plumes visible above the area. In a particularly disturbing incident, an evacuation convoy in the village of Zoria near Kostiantynivka came under attack, resulting in injuries to at least two civilians and a rescue worker when Russian drones targeted their vehicles The Guardian3.
For its part, Russia's Ministry of Defense countered with allegations that Ukrainian forces had violated the ceasefire more than 1,000 times, claiming Ukraine had conducted over 900 drone strikes and fired 444 times with guns and mortars, causing infrastructure damage and civilian casualties NBC News2.
Easter Under Occupation
Despite the tense military situation, Ukrainians attempted to observe Easter traditions across the country. In Kyiv, the scent of freshly baked panettone and the shimmer of vyshyvankas (traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts) filled the streets as families gathered to celebrate the holiday. However, an underlying tension permeated these gatherings, reflecting the harsh realities of life in a nation at war NBC News2.
Orthodox Easter services were held even in frontline areas, with military chaplains conducting ceremonies for soldiers in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Images captured chaplains sprinkling holy water on service personnel during these services, highlighting the intersection of faith and conflict in wartime Ukraine The Guardian3.
Ukrainian citizens expressed profound skepticism toward the ceasefire. "I do not believe in this," said Tatiana Yemets, a 36-year-old accountant standing on the steps of St. Alexander Cathedral in Kyiv. "You can say a lot of things, but actions speak for themselves." Similarly, Oleksandr Chornyi, 24, emerging from Mass at the same cathedral, observed: "They don't care when they shell us, when they launch missiles at us... This is done to demonstrate to the world that they are peaceful. But their intentions remain the same" NBC News2.
International Reactions
The international community's response to the rapidly deteriorating ceasefire has been mixed. The United States, under the Trump administration, appears increasingly impatient with the lack of progress in peace negotiations. Former President Donald Trump signaled Friday that he might abandon his efforts to broker a peace deal if no advancement is made soon, stating simply: "We want to get it done" The Guardian3.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has engaged in discussions with European leaders in Paris regarding potential pathways to end the conflict. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have expressed frustration with what they perceive as pro-Putin rhetoric from certain elements within the White House The Guardian3.
Media coverage has also become a point of contention, with Ukraine's foreign ministry demanding an explanation and potential apology from Fox News for erroneously labeling Kyiv as part of Russia in their reporting The Guardian3.
Implications for Peace Negotiations
The failed ceasefire highlights the complex dynamics surrounding potential peace negotiations. Putin's announcement appeared designed to place President Zelenskyy in a difficult position: rejecting the truce could risk alienating the Trump administration, while accepting it might allow Russian forces to regroup for future offensives New York Times4.
Zelenskyy has countered by suggesting that if Russia genuinely wants peace, it should commit to a more substantial ceasefire. "Instead of broadcasting religious service from Moscow, the focus should be on pressuring Moscow to genuinely commit to a full ceasefire and to maintain it for at least 30 days after Easter – to give diplomacy a real chance," he stated The Guardian3.
Security experts suggest that short-term ceasefires have historically provided little benefit toward resolving the broader conflict. Rather than symbolic gestures, they argue that substantive diplomatic engagement and verifiable commitments to de-escalation would be necessary to create conditions for meaningful peace talks.
A Pattern of Failed Truces
This Easter ceasefire follows a pattern of short-lived truces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Previous ceasefires, including one declared for Orthodox Christmas in January 2023, similarly failed to hold as fighting continued despite official announcements NBC News5.
The pattern of announcing but not adhering to ceasefires has contributed to the deep skepticism among Ukrainians and international observers regarding Russia's intentions. "We are documenting every Russian violation of its self-declared commitment to a full ceasefire for the Easter period and are prepared to provide the necessary information to our partners," Zelenskyy emphasized The Guardian3.
The Road Ahead
As Easter celebrations conclude, the prospects for peace remain uncertain. The failed ceasefire highlights the immense challenges facing any diplomatic resolution to the conflict. With the Trump administration signaling potential disengagement if progress isn't made soon, pressure is mounting on both sides to demonstrate genuine commitment to negotiations.
For Ukrainian citizens, the brief and ineffective Easter truce offers little respite from the daily realities of war. As they continue to navigate life amid conflict, the question remains: will future diplomatic initiatives offer more substance than symbolism, or will the cycle of announced but unfulfilled ceasefires continue to characterize this prolonged and devastating war?
