Ukraine has accused Russia of breaking an Easter cease-fire declared over the weekend by President Vladimir Putin. The truce, which was meant to last for 30 hours, was seen as an attempt by Putin to assure the United States of Russia's commitment to peace. On the other hand, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Russian forces had engaged in artillery attacks, ambushes, and drone strikes, violating the agreed terms.
Russia's defense ministry refuted these claims, stating that its troops had adhered to the cease-fire while blaming Ukraine for instigating attacks utilizing drones during the night. A Ukrainian drone unit commander remarked that the situation in eastern Ukraine during the truce remained unchanged from prior hostilities since the escalated invasion commenced in February 2022. "In reality, there was no cease-fire at all," he stated.
As diplomatic efforts seem to stall, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Friday that the U.S. might withdraw from negotiations aimed at ending the war if progress is not achieved. Furthermore, President Trump has indicated a potential minerals deal with Ukraine could be signed soon after previous negotiations hit a snag due to tensions between the leaders in Washington.
