**Ukraine’s Easter Truce Statement**
Ukrainian President **Volodymyr Zelensky** announced that Ukraine would adhere to an Easter truce. This declaration came just hours after Russian President **Vladimir Putin** ordered Russian troops to pause all combat activities until **2100 GMT on Sunday**.
**Zelensky’s Response**
Zelensky stated, “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 made this comment on **April 19, 2025**, via a post on X (formerly Twitter). Zelensky also proposed extending the ceasefire beyond Easter, which falls on **April 20**.
**Previous Ceasefire Proposals**
A corresponding proposal for a full and unconditional **30-day ceasefire** has been unaddressed by Russia for **39 days**. The **United States** initiated this proposal, which Ukraine accepted positively, but Russia has consistently ignored it.
**Accusations Against Russia**
Despite the truce announcement, Zelensky accused Russia of breaking its promises. He said that Russian assault operations continued on several frontline sectors and that artillery fire had not diminished. Reports from Ukraine’s **Kherson** governor indicated several Russian drone attacks occurred after the truce was expected to begin at **6:00 PM** local time (1500 GMT). Additionally, warnings of air raids were issued across multiple regions in eastern Ukraine, including **Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia,** and **Dnipropetrovsk**.
**Trust Issues with Moscow**
Zelensky expressed a lack of trust in Moscow’s statements, emphasizing Ukraine’s awareness of Russia’s manipulation tactics. He assured that Ukraine’s Defense Forces would respond appropriately to any Russian strikes, saying, “Every Russian strike will be met with an appropriate response.”
**Previous Ceasefire Attempts**
Putin’s truce announcement was unexpected, especially after he had previously rejected the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Zelensky had accepted that offer. Efforts to secure ceasefires during Easter in **April 2022** and Orthodox Christmas in **January 2023** were not realized due to a lack of agreement between both sides.
**US Involvement**
Former President **Donald Trump** is now advocating for an end to the ongoing three-year conflict but warned that he might abandon ceasefire negotiations if substantial progress is not observable soon, as of his comments made on **Friday** prior to the truce announcement.
