Zelenskyy says Russian forces ignore Easter ceasefire

KYIV, April 20 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Sunday that Russia’s announcement of an Easter ceasefire was largely symbolic, as Russian troops continued to engage in combat operations despite President Vladimir Putin’s order. The Russian leader had instructed his forces to halt all military actions along the front line until midnight on Orthodox Easter Sunday.

This move came shortly after the United States warned that it might withdraw from peace negotiations if both sides failed to demonstrate a serious commitment to talks.

Zelenskyy, speaking via social media, said that although Russia appeared to simulate a pause in hostilities, it had not stopped trying to push forward and damage Ukrainian defenses in certain areas.

He noted that Ukrainian forces had documented hundreds of shelling incidents on Saturday night. On Sunday morning alone, 59 instances of shelling and five assault attempts were reported.

Military spokesperson Viktor Trehubov confirmed that the intensity of fighting had declined but emphasized that combat had not ceased. "It’s slowing down, but we never truly believed it would stop," he said in a national broadcast.

Meanwhile, in Russian-occupied Donetsk, multiple explosions were reported early Sunday, according to Russian media outlets. Reuters was unable to independently verify these battlefield accounts.

Trump’s Role in Peace Talks

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to end the war quickly if re-elected, suggesting a shift in U.S. policy that could lean towards Russia’s narrative of the conflict.

Last month, Ukraine agreed to Trump's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia refused. Instead, both sides accepted a limited pause targeting attacks on energy infrastructure and maritime operations though each blames the other for violating those terms.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s willingness to extend the ceasefire for 30 days, but made clear that Ukraine would match Russia’s actions if hostilities resumed. "If Russia continues to fight today, so will we," he declared.

The European Union responded to Putin’s truce declaration with skepticism, emphasizing that Russia could end the war unilaterally if it chose to do so.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reiterated support for a comprehensive and just peace, respecting Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity.

Easter Sunday this year is shared by both Orthodox and Western Christian traditions. In his Easter address, Zelenskyy encouraged Ukrainians not to lose hope. “We know what we are defending and why we are fighting,” he said, dressed in traditional attire and standing before Kyiv’s historic Saint Sophia Cathedral.