Ukraine Skeptical as Putin Declares 30-Hour Easter Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Attacks

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a surprise 30-hour Easter ceasefire in Ukraine from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday to midnight Sunday. He cited humanitarian reasons and urged Ukraine to follow suit, while instructing Russian troops to remain alert for provocations. However, Ukraine dismissed the truce as insincere and reported continued Russian attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized the move, recalling Russia’s recent rejection of a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump. Zelenskiy said Russian artillery fire persisted, especially in the border regions of Kursk and Belgorod, where Ukraine has launched counterattacks. He stressed that Russia's words cannot be trusted, noting air raid sirens and drone activity continued in Kyiv even after the truce was announced.

Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed that Russian assault operations were ongoing. The governor of Kherson province also reported continued shelling, posting images of damaged buildings. Despite Moscow’s ceasefire claims, many Ukrainians, including Kyiv residents, expressed deep skepticism based on past experiences.

The EU and UK echoed Ukraine’s concerns, urging Russia to show genuine intent through actions, not just statements. Meanwhile, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev promoted the truce online as “one step closer to peace,” despite ongoing hostilities.

This unilateral move follows a deadly Russian missile strike in Sumy that killed 35 civilians and injured nearly 120 during Palm Sunday celebrations. While U.S. officials hinted at abandoning peace efforts without progress, Trump has signaled a shift in U.S. policy, aiming for a swift resolution and openness to Moscow’s perspective.

Ukraine has stated it would consider extending a true ceasefire beyond Easter if Russia fully halts hostilities. So far, reports indicate that has not happened.