ALBAWABA - Russia and Ukraine have accused one other of breaking the brief Easter truce that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed upon.
The ceasefire was imposed as a humanitarian measure and was set to start at 6 p.m. on Saturday and terminate at midnight on Sunday. But within hours of its start, both sides alleged violations.
Russia's Ministry of Defense claims that Ukrainian troops carried out a number of assaults in several areas, including Donetsk, Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod, involving more than 440 artillery strikes and 900 drone missions. Moscow said that several civilians were killed and that infrastructure was damaged as a consequence of these activities.
President Zelenskyy responded by accusing Russian troops of abusing the truce as a pretext for carrying out attacks on frontlines in the east, such as Pokrovsk and Siversk. He said that during the ceasefire, Moscow's forces launched over 900 shellings and dozens of strikes. Once again, Zelenskyy demanded a "comprehensive, unconditional, and just ceasefire" that would continue for at least 30 days.
The Kremlin said it will not prolong the truce over the predetermined period, despite promises made by both parties. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin, acknowledged that President Putin had not signed an extension order.
President Biden and his foreign friends, like as China and the UN, are still urging both countries to find a peaceful settlement.
As active fighting and distrust continue to dominate diplomatic attempts, the brief truce—the third of its sort since the conflict started in 2022—highlighted the continued difficulties in establishing a durable peace.
