2 weeks Ago By News Ghana
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.com.gh/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-breaching-easter-truce-amid-continued-attacks/Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asserted that Russian forces persisted in military operations during a purported Easter ceasefire, undermining Moscow’s pledge to halt hostilities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 30-hour pause in fighting starting Saturday, framing it as a humanitarian gesture aligned with Orthodox Easter observances. Zelensky, however, reported 387 instances of shelling, 19 assaults, and 290 drone deployments by Russian troops within the truce’s first six hours, though these claims remain unverified independently.Kyiv initially agreed to mirror the ceasefire but criticized its limited duration, proposing instead a 30-day cessation of hostilities a plan previously endorsed by Ukrainian officials in response to U.
S. mediation efforts. By Sunday, Zelensky accused Moscow of feigning compliance while continuing localized offensives.
“Our soldiers are responding appropriately to every enemy action,” he stated, emphasizing Ukraine’s conditional willingness to extend the truce if Russia commits to “full and unconditional silence.”Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha expressed skepticism toward Putin’s motives, noting a pattern of Russian statements diverging from actions. “We will look at actions, not words,” he wrote on social media, echoing Kyiv’s demand for verifiable de-escalation.
The Russian Defense Ministry affirmed adherence to the ceasefire but conditioned it on mutual compliance, warning of readiness to counter “provocations.” Putin, during a meeting with military chief Valery Gerasimov, framed the pause as a unilateral goodwill measure, urging Kyiv to reciprocate. Analysts highlight parallels to a failed Christmas 2023 ceasefire, which collapsed amid mutual distrust and conflicting terms.
The UK Foreign Office responded to the truce by urging Moscow to pursue a permanent withdrawal rather than temporary pauses. “Now is the moment for Putin to end his invasion,” a spokesperson said, underscoring international calls for sustained diplomacy.The Easter truce underscores the entrenched challenges of negotiating ceasefires in a conflict marked by systemic distrust.
Historical precedents, including the collapsed Christmas agreement, reveal a recurring dynamic: short-term pauses often serve tactical or rhetorical aims rather than fostering dialogue.Kyiv’s push for extended truces reflects its strategy to consolidate international support and expose Moscow’s operational inconsistencies, while Russia’s emphasis on conditional reciprocity aligns with its narrative of defending strategic interests. As both sides leverage humanitarian gestures for geopolitical advantage, the viability of future pauses hinges on third-party verification and enforceable terms elements absent in current frameworks.
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.com.gh/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-breaching-easter-truce-amid-continued-attacks/.
