"Ceasefire Only on Paper: President Putin Breaks His Own Declared Ceasefire" – Accusation by President Zelensky

"Ceasefire Only on Paper: President Putin Breaks His Own Declared Ceasefire" – Accusation by President Zelensky
Kyiv, April 20, 2025

According to a CNN report, Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine on Saturday for Easter, but Ukraine has accused him of violating the very ceasefire he declared. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to the announcement as "nothing more than a PR campaign."

Putin ordered a halt to all military activity by Russian forces from 6:00 PM (Moscow time) on Saturday until midnight Sunday, a 30-hour ceasefire. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Sunday that the ceasefire would not be extended.

Ukraine Claims Attacks Increased, Ceasefire Just on Paper
Despite the ceasefire announcement, Ukraine claims that Russian attacks increased starting Sunday morning. President Zelensky stated that Russian forces began heavy shelling and drone strikes at 10:00 AM on Sunday.

In Zelensky's words:
"Putin may not have full control over his forces, or this shows that Russia does not really want to stop the war – they just want to appear good in the eyes of the world."

Russia's Counter-Accusations: Ukraine Violated Ceasefire 1,000 Times
The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that they strictly adhered to the ceasefire, while accusing Ukraine of violating it over 1,000 times. According to their statement, Ukrainian forces fired on Russian positions 444 times and launched over 900 drone strikes after 6:00 PM on Saturday.

Statistics on Attacks from Ukraine's Armed Forces
Ukrainian Armed Forces Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported:

• By 4:00 PM on Sunday, Russia had carried out 901 attacks, 448 of which were with heavy weapons.

• Russia used over 400 drones.

• 46 attacks occurred on various fronts.

Ukraine: Russia Preparing for War Under the Guise of Ceasefire
Ukraine's 66th Mechanized Brigade reported that near Lyman in the Donetsk region, Russian forces took advantage of the ceasefire to move a military vehicle stuck under a bridge and create a route for heavy weapons.

U.S. 30-Day Ceasefire Proposal Revisited
Zelensky stated that Ukraine still agrees to the United States' proposal for a 30-day full ceasefire, though Russia has not responded to the offer. He said,
"We want true peace, and for even one month, Ukraine seeks a full and unconditional ceasefire."

Ground Commander's Message: We Will Respond to Aggression
One of Ukraine's frontline commanders stated,
"We are not firing unless we are attacked as per our specific instructions. But if Russian forces open fire or advance, we will respond."

Putin's Statement: Ceasefire for Humanitarian Reasons, but Will Respond to Provocations
Putin described the ceasefire as a humanitarian effort but stated that his forces would respond to any "provocations."