“Shaheds in our sky are Vladimir Putin’s real attitude toward Easter and toward human life,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared after the Russian leader’s statement about an “Easter truce.”
“Because of Putin’s latest attempt to toy with people’s lives, an air‑raid alert has been declared. At 17:15 Kyiv time (16:15 in Poland) Russian attack drones were spotted over our airspace. Ukrainian air‑defense forces and aviation have already gone into action. Shaheds in our sky show Putin’s true respect for Easter and for human life,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
He added that, according to a report from Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, “our forces remained active today in Russia’s Kursk region and are holding their positions. In Belgorod region our troops advanced and expanded our zone of control,” the president said.
“Thirty hours instead of thirty days”
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha also commented on Putin’s pledge of an Easter truce.
“Putin issued a statement about an alleged readiness for a cease‑fire—thirty hours instead of thirty days. Unfortunately, we have a long history of his words not matching his deeds. We know his words cannot be trusted, and we will judge by actions, not statements,”
he posted on X.
Sybiha stressed that Ukraine’s position “remains clear and consistent.” At talks in Jeddah on 11 March, “the Ukrainian side unconditionally agreed to the U.S. proposal for a full 30‑day cease‑fire. Russia refused, and 39 days have passed since,” he noted.
“During that time the Moscow regime has set various conditions and intensified its terror against Ukraine, civilians and civilian infrastructure across the country… We want Russian forces actually to hold fire on every front,” he emphasized.
Sybiha appealed to Ukraine’s partners and the international community to stay vigilant: “Only deeds, not words, reveal the truth: this war began and continues solely because of Russia.”
The “Easter truce”
Earlier on Saturday Putin announced that an Easter cease‑fire would come into force at 18:00 Kyiv time (17:00 in Poland). The halt in fighting is to last until midnight (23:00 in Poland) from Sunday to Monday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the order had already been passed to all commanders engaged in the war with Ukraine, adding that Russian forces would adhere to the truce if the Ukrainian side did the same.