**Putin’s Easter Ceasefire Called a “Media Stunt” by Czech Foreign Minister**
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of an Easter ceasefire has been met with skepticism by the international community. The temporary truce, which was supposed to last from 6 p.m. on April 19 until midnight on April 21, has been described as little more than a “media stunt” by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky.
Lipavsky made his comments on April 20, stating that Russia’s failure to follow through on its own ceasefire demonstrates Putin’s contempt for the peace process. He compared Putin’s actions to someone going on a hunger strike between breakfast and lunch and secretly eating candy.
“It’s not just about words,” Lipavsky said in an interview with CNN Prima News. “We see that the attacks are continuing. Ukraine reports that there have been a number of attacks, so the ceasefire declared in this way is more of a media stunt than reality.”
The Czech Foreign Minister also criticized Russia’s refusal to agree to a full 30-day ceasefire on hostilities, which has been proposed by the U.S. since March. Lipavsky stated that Putin’s declaration of an Easter truce was just a way to gain attention and distract from his country’s ongoing aggression.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed his skepticism about Putin’s intentions, saying that a 30-day ceasefire would be a more meaningful gesture towards peace. “Thirty hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures,” Zelensky said in an address on April 19.
**Russian Ceasefire Violations**
Despite Putin’s announcement of the Easter ceasefire, reports have emerged of ongoing Russian attacks against Ukrainian positions. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have observed an increase in Russian shelling and the use of kamikaze drones since 10 a.m. on April 20, with the use of FPV drones doubling.
President Zelensky also reported that there were multiple deadly attacks after Russia’s alleged Easter ceasefire was supposed to come into effect. The number of casualties suffered by Russian forces over the past day has risen to 950, according to Ukraine’s military.
**International Reaction**
The international community has also reacted with skepticism to Putin’s announcement. The U.K. foreign ministry called on Russia to go beyond a “one-day pause” and commit to a complete ceasefire. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged Putin “to finally stop this war he started.”
Ukrainian diplomat Andrii Melnyk wrote on April 19 that Germany has a decisive role to play in stopping the murder and bringing about a just peace. The president said that at least 67 Ukrainian priests, pastors, and monks have been killed or tortured by Russian forces, and that 640 religious sites—most of them Christian—have been destroyed since the start of the full-scale invasion.
**Conclusion**
Putin’s Easter ceasefire has been met with skepticism by the international community. The temporary truce has been described as little more than a “media stunt” by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, and reports have emerged of ongoing Russian attacks against Ukrainian positions. The failure to follow through on its own ceasefire demonstrates Putin’s contempt for the peace process, and it remains to be seen whether Russia will ever commit to a genuine gesture towards peace.
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