**Ukraine Proposes Extending Ceasefire Beyond Easter Sunday**
As Russia announced a temporary ceasefire during the Easter holiday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism and proposed extending the truce for 30 days if Russia maintains complete silence.
On April 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that he had ordered a halt on all combat operations from 6 p.m. Moscow time until midnight on April 21. However, Ukraine’s military has reported continued shelling and attacks, which undermines trust in Russia’s claims of a truce.
**Ukraine Ready to Respond**
Zelensky said that if complete silence prevails, Ukraine proposes extending the ceasefire for an additional 30 days. He emphasized that this would show Russia’s true intentions and give peace a chance.
However, Zelensky also warned that Ukraine will respond in kind if Russia violates the truce. “The Ukrainian Defense Forces will act rationally, responding in a mirror manner. There will be an adequate response to every Russian strike,” he said.
**Previous Ceasefire Efforts Unsuccessful**
This is not the first time that Ukraine and Russia have attempted to negotiate a ceasefire. In recent weeks, there have been two major Russian attacks on Ukraine during Orthodox holidays. A deadly missile strike on Sumy on Palm Sunday killed 35 people, while an attack against Kharkiv on Good Friday killed one person and injured 120.
**Ukrainian Military Receives Orders to Cease Fire**
A senior Ukrainian military officer reportedly told the BBC’s Russia service that Ukrainian units received orders to cease fire against Russian positions minutes after the Easter truce was set to go into effect. Soldiers were also ordered to document any Russian ceasefire violations and return fire if necessary.
**International Community Reacts**
The international community has been watching the developments in Ukraine closely. The U.S. indicated during recent talks in Paris that it has developed a draft concept for how a comprehensive ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia might be monitored if one can be achieved.
The European Union has also been involved in efforts to broker a peace deal, with a senior EU official saying that they are “working tirelessly” to find a solution.
**Background**
The conflict in Ukraine began in 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula. Since then, there have been ongoing clashes between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
In recent months, tensions have escalated with increased shelling and attacks on both sides. The international community has called for a ceasefire, but so far, efforts have been unsuccessful.
**What’s Next?**
The proposed 30-day extension of the ceasefire is a significant development in the conflict. If Russia maintains complete silence and extends the truce, it could be a crucial step towards finding a lasting peace solution.
However, if Russia continues to attack Ukraine, it will only add to the growing list of failed ceasefire attempts and deepen the divide between the two nations.
Only time will tell if this latest proposal will succeed where others have failed.
