Merely hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an Easter ceasefire to cease bombing Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that the Russian strikes haven’t stopped within the border areas of Kursk and Belgorod. Ukraine mentioned Russia violated its personal Easter ceasefire and maintained its artillery fireplace and assaults on the frontline.
In a press release on social media, Zelensky mentioned, “Kursk and Belgorod areas – Putin’s Easter statements didn’t unfold to this territory.”
“Preventing continues, Russian strikes proceed.”
Whereas the Russian Easter truce is supposed to final till midnight on Sunday, April 20, air-raid sirens sounded in Kyiv, indicating violence.
Ukrainian governor of southern Kherson area Oleksandr Prokudin alleged that for the reason that truce, Moscow had launched a number of drone strikes.
The Russian Easter truce
The order to halt all fight over the Easter weekend got here after months of efforts by US President Donald Trump to get Moscow and Kyiv to agree a truce.
On Friday, Washington even threatened to withdraw from talks if no progress was made.
“Right this moment from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian aspect broadcasts an Easter truce,” Vladimir Putin mentioned earlier Saturday in televised feedback.
Vladimir Putin additionally had mentioned the truce for the Easter vacation celebrated on Sunday was motivated by “humanitarian causes”.
He mentioned he anticipated Ukraine to conform however that Russian troops “have to be prepared to withstand doable breaches of the truce and provocations by the enemy.”
Whereas Zelensky responded by saying Ukraine would comply with swimsuit, and proposed extending the truce past Sunday, he additionally accused Russia of getting already damaged its guarantees.
“If Russia is now all of the sudden prepared to actually have interaction in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly – mirroring Russia’s actions,” he mentioned.
And simply hours after the Easter ceasefire was introduced, Ukraine has accused Russia of violating it and persevering with its strikes and assault within the border areas.
