Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for violating a one-day Easter ceasefire declared by President Vladimir Putin, with both sides accusing each other of launching hundreds of attacks despite calls for a temporary halt in hostilities.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Sunday of violating a one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both sides reporting continued hostilities and hundreds of attacks.
The temporary truce, announced by Putin on Saturday, called for all Russian military activity along the front line to halt until midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT) on Easter Sunday. However, both Moscow and Kyiv have since claimed breaches of the ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged that while Russia sought to create the appearance of a ceasefire, its forces carried out numerous artillery attacks overnight and continued assaults on Sunday. In a post on the social media platform X, Zelenskyy reported 26 Russian attacks between midnight and midday local time, suggesting that Russia had no genuine intention to halt hostilities.
“Either Putin does not have full control over his army, or Russia has no interest in ending the war and is focused only on favorable PR,” Zelenskyy stated.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of violating the truce more than 1,000 times, including over 900 drone attacks and 444 strikes on Russian positions. The ministry claimed that some of these attacks caused civilian casualties and infrastructure damage in regions such as Crimea, Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod.
While Ukraine’s military reported reduced activity along the front line earlier in the day, independent confirmation of battlefield developments remains unavailable. Some Russian military bloggers also acknowledged a relative decrease in fighting.
The collapse of the short-lived ceasefire highlights the ongoing challenges facing international efforts to mediate peace. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a peacemaker, recently proposed a 30-day truce. While Kyiv accepted the offer, Moscow cited unresolved issues related to verification.
Both sides have previously agreed to avoid targeting energy infrastructure and maritime routes, though each continues to accuse the other of violating those commitments.
President Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to extend the truce, but emphasized that continued Russian aggression would compel Ukrainian forces to respond.
As of now, Russia maintains control over approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea and parts of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
In announcing the ceasefire, Putin stated that the gesture would test Ukraine’s readiness for peace and expressed appreciation to U.S. President Trump, China’s President Xi Jinping, and BRICS leaders for their mediation efforts.
The European Union responded cautiously to the truce, noting that Russia could end the war at any time. The United Nations reiterated its support for a comprehensive and just peace that fully respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
With Easter falling on the same day this year for both Orthodox and Western Christian churches, President Zelenskyy encouraged Ukrainians to continue believing in the hope of a future peace.
Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that India is opening up 200,000 square kilometers of its sedimentary basin for oil and gas exploration, inviting Russian companies to participate.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports
The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.
Two North Korean fishermen picked up by South Korean patrols in March remain stranded in the South as Pyongyang refuses to respond to requests for their return.
Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that India is opening up 200,000 square kilometers of its sedimentary basin for oil and gas exploration, inviting Russian companies to participate.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports
The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.
Two North Korean fishermen picked up by South Korean patrols in March remain stranded in the South as Pyongyang refuses to respond to requests for their return.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Türkiye for their first direct peace talks since 2022, with discussions lasting under two hours.
Vietnam and Thailand have officially upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership, marking a significant step forward in regional diplomacy.
Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that India is opening up 200,000 square kilometers of its sedimentary basin for oil and gas exploration, inviting Russian companies to participate.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports
The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.
Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that India is opening up 200,000 square kilometers of its sedimentary basin for oil and gas exploration, inviting Russian companies to participate.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports
The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.
Two North Korean fishermen picked up by South Korean patrols in March remain stranded in the South as Pyongyang refuses to respond to requests for their return.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment