Attacks continue despite Putin's 'Easter truce' pledge, Zelensky says

The fragile hope for a temporary respite in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine was quickly challenged, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that Russian forces continued their attacks despite Vladimir Putin's declaration of an "Easter truce." This development has cast a shadow of doubt over the sincerity of Russia's stated intentions, and has further heightened the already strained tensions between the warring nations.
Putin's announcement of a 30-hour cessation of military operations, timed to coincide with Orthodox Easter, was initially met with a degree of cautious optimism. However, Zelenskyy's subsequent claims of ongoing Russian artillery fire and drone activity across various frontlines have painted a starkly different picture. The Ukrainian president's statements emphasized a pattern of distrust, highlighting a long history of perceived discrepancies between Russian words and actions.
The international community, already deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, has reacted with renewed calls for a genuine and sustained ceasefire. The discrepancy between the declared truce and the reported ongoing attacks has fueled skepticism among world leaders, and has complicated the already difficult path toward any potential peace negotiations.
Reports detail that while Russia declared that the truce would be in effect from 6pm Moscow time on the Saturday, until midnight Moscow time on the Sunday, that Ukrainian officials have stated that attacks continued through this period. Adding to the complexities of the situation is the fact that, along with the news of the proposed truce, came news of large prisoner exchanges between the two nations. This action, while positive, is now being viewed within the context of the broken truce.
The Ukrainian government has stated that they would be willing to extend a true cease fire, beyond the proposed 30 hours, if a true cease of hostilities was to occur. This statement shows that the Ukrainian government is willing to seek peace, but that they are also very wary of Russian actions. The overall sentiment is that words are not enough, that actions are what will determine the true intentions of the russian forces.
The situation remains fluid, and the implications of these developments are far-reaching. The breakdown of the declared truce not only exacerbates the immediate suffering of those caught in the conflict, but also erodes trust, making future diplomatic efforts even more challenging. The world now watches, as the conflict continues. develop.
Source@BBC