Ukrainian skies tense as Putin's 'Easter truce' questioned

"Our forces continued operations in the Kursk region on Saturday and maintained their positions. In the Belgorod region, our military progressed and expanded their area of influence," wrote Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram.

"As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with people’s lives – an air raid alert is sounding across Ukraine right now. At 5:15 p.m., Russian attack drones were spotted in our skies. Ukrainian air defence and aviation are already responding. The presence of Shahed (drones) over our territory shows Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and human life," added the President of Ukraine.

This is the first comment from the Ukrainian leader on the "Easter truce" that Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday. "Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce," said the Russian president, quoted by the TASS agency.

- I order the suspension of all combat operations during this period. We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions," added Putin in a propaganda statement.

When announcing his decision, Vladimir Putin explained it was for "humanitarian reasons". His words were met with an immediate reaction from Ukraine. "Why for 30 hours and not an unconditional ceasefire, as partners have proposed since 11th March," asked Andriy Kovalenko, head of the centre for combating disinformation in Ukraine.

Peace talks concerning the war in Ukraine are complex and full of challenges. Experts indicate that achieving peace by 2025 is unlikely, and Vladimir Putin may prolong negotiations with the US, complicating the end of the conflict. Russia is using ongoing talks to gain an advantage on the front.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia is intensifying military activities despite ongoing negotiations. The Kremlin does not agree to a ceasefire without easing Western sanctions. The Russians aim to take control over Eastern Ukraine, complicating the peace process.

Vladimir Putin sees negotiations as part of a larger puzzle, hoping to improve relations with the US. Russia aims for a broad economic agreement, which may influence peace talks. The Kremlin demands guarantees that Ukraine will not join NATO, which is a crucial point in the negotiations.

The United States is considering withdrawing from peace talks regarding Ukraine if there are no signs of progress in the coming days. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that the war in Ukraine is not a conflict of the United States, and the US has other priorities. Rubio noted that if both sides demonstrate readiness for peace, talks will continue.

Rubio's statement elicited a reaction from the Kremlin, which admitted that discussions about the ceasefire are difficult and progressing slowly. Russia ended a month-long moratorium on attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, further complicating the situation. The Kremlin emphasises that the war in Ukraine is a complex issue, and the talks are part of an information war.

The US, despite difficulties, continues to strive for a peace agreement. Delegations from Ukraine and the US met in Paris to discuss key issues related to the ceasefire. Both sides had constructive discussions about paths to a complete ceasefire and further process of achieving lasting peace.