THE Volodimir Zelenski rejected the Easter truce announced yesterday on Saturday (19.04.2025) by Vladimir Putinsaying that the Russian army made the night attempts to promote and bring losses to Ukraine forces along the line of the front.
Putin ordered a 30 -hour ceasefire From 18:00 on Good Saturday (Russia and Greece time) until midnight on Sunday, April 20, while warning Ukraine that his troops would repel any “truce violations”.
Its announcement, which took place after US President Donald Trump’s warning of abandoning peace talks, was followed by Zelenski’s accusations that Russian troops were still launching attacks.
“Russian attack operations continue in some areas of the front and the Russian artillery is not receding,” Mr Zelenski wrote on social media on Saturday night.
Later on the same day, in a different post, the Ukrainian president, who said Kiev would keep the truce, said the attacks were continuing in the Kursk and Belgorod areas – in both Russian areas where Ukrainian troops have crossed the border.
“The hostilities continue and Russian blows insist,” he wrote. “The Russian artillery is still heard in some directions of the front, regardless of the Russian leader’s promise of silence. Russian unmanned aircraft are in use. In some areas, the situation has become quieter. “
Earlier, Zelenski said Kiev would keep the truce and said he would be ready to extend it after April 20. He said that in March, Ukraine agreed to a 30 -day truce after talks with the US, but was rejected by Russia.
This proposal remained on the table, said Zelenski, who wrote: “Thirty hours are enough to make headlines, but not for real confidence building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance. “
In response to Putin’s announcement for a truce, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha He said the Russian president cannot be reliable. “Unfortunately, we have a long story that his statements do not match his actions,” he wrote on social media.
The temporary truce was declared by Putin in a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff, Valeri Gerasimov. During the television meeting, Putin said: “Based on humanitarian estimates … The Russian side announces Easter truce. I order the interruption of all military activities for this period.
We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be ready to repel potential violations of the truce and enemy challenges, any aggressive actions. “
In recent weeks, the US has been involved in direct talks with Russia and Ukraine to end the war, which began when Russia launched an invasion in February 2022.
Trump’s patience is exhausted
But patience seems to be exhausted for Trump, who has doubled Washington’s threats that the US will abandon peace talks unless there are clear signs of progress.
He spoke shortly after Foreign Minister Marco Rubio warned that the United States could “move on” to secure a Russian-Ukraine peace agreement, as long-term efforts have failed to put an end to the battles.
Meanwhile, with the declaration of the 30 -hour truce came the announcement from Russia and Ukraine that hundreds of prisoners were exchanged on Saturday in the largest exchange since the start of the war.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that 246 Russian soldiers had returned from Kiev -controlled territories and that, “as a gesture of goodwill”, 31 injured Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred to 15 injured Russian soldiers.
Zelenski said that 277 Ukrainians “warriors returned home from Russian captivity”.
Earlier on Saturday, before the truce was announced, Russia said its soldiers had repelled Ukrainian forces from one of their last remaining foundations in the Russian region. The Russian forces have controlled the village of Oleshnya on the border with Ukraine, the ministry said.