Zelensky accuses Putin of only trying to 'create impression' of Easter ceasefire (2025)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of trying to inflict losses on the battlefield on Easter Sunday, despite Vladimir Putin’s promise of a truce.

The Russian President announced a ceasefire with Ukraine to mark the Christian holiday, set to last until midnight on Sunday evening.

But just hours into the truce, Russia was accused of breaking it by attacking Ukrainian soldiers again.

In a post on X, Zelensky wrote that as of this morning, ‘the Russian army is attempting to create the general impression of a ceasefire, while in some areas still continuing isolated attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine’.

He suggested Ukraine would be unable to maintain its side of the truce while attacks continue, saying: ‘We will act in accordance with the actual situation on the ground.’

The president also reiterated his proposal, agreed with the US, for a 30-day ceasefire remains on the table.

In a later post to mark Easter Sunday, Zelensky wrote: ‘Evil may have its hour, but God will have His day.’

All military actions were told to halt for the duration of Sunday – shortly after Putin launched anattack on a factory baking Easter treats that led to one person being killed and another injured.

Traditional cakes, baked for the most important day in the Christian calendar, were seen littered among rubble and dust after the strike on the factory.

Zelensky said on X on Saturday evening: ‘As of now, according to the Commander-in-Chief reports, Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided.

‘Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow.

‘We know all too well how Moscow manipulates, and we are prepared for anything. Ukraine’s Defense Forces will act rationally — responding in kind.

‘Every Russian strike will be met with an appropriate response.’

The attack on Sumy follows another strike on Palm Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said was ‘right in the heart of the city’.

It killed 34 people, including two children and injured 117 others.

There was an attempted Easter Truce in 2022, shortly after the war broke out that February, but it fell through.

A historic prisoner swap

Russia and Ukraine havealso swapped hundreds of prisoners in the war’s largest exchange, according to Russia’s Ministry of Defence.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said that 246 Russian service members were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv and that, ‘as a gesture of goodwill’, 31 wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr said that 277 Ukrainian ‘warriors have returned home from Russian captivity.’

The news came as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

The announcement comes after yesterday, the US suggested that if no progress was made with peace talks, they would ‘move on’ from the discussions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the US would stop helping after months of efforts had failed to bring an end to the fighting.

PresidentDonald Trumpadded: ‘Now, if for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say you’re foolish. You are fools, you horrible people.

‘And we’re going to just take a pass. But hopefully, we won’t have to do that.’

Trump previously claimed he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine ‘within 24 hours’.

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