**Russia’s Easter Ceasefire: A PR Stunt or a Step Towards Peace?**
In an effort to placate U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an Easter ceasefire earlier this month. However, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, this truce was nothing more than a “charm offensive” aimed at preventing the American president from losing patience with stalled peace negotiations.
The ceasefire, which was supposed to last from April 19 to 21, failed to hold despite Putin’s announcement. Ukrainian officials claimed that Russian forces violated the truce in nearly 3,000 instances, while Moscow accused Kyiv of similar breaches.
This development comes as the Trump administration has been growing increasingly frustrated with its inability to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. The U.S. president had even hinted at abandoning the effort unless tangible progress was made, only to later express optimism that a deal could still be reached.
**France’s Take on the Ceasefire**
In an interview with FranceInfo, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that Putin’s Easter ceasefire was a calculated move aimed at appeasing Trump. “The Easter truce that Putin announced… was more of a PR move — a charm offensive intended to prevent President Trump from becoming impatient or upset,” he said.
Barrot also suggested that Ukraine had gone further in offering a full 30-day ceasefire, which Moscow has yet to accept. European leaders have outlined their “red lines” in a peace deal, but the specifics remain unclear.
**Ukraine and Russia: A Cycle of Violence**
In recent days, Russian forces have launched heavy attacks on Ukrainian cities such as Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Odesa. The assault on Zaporizhzhia included two KAB bombs that hit an infrastructure facility and a multi-story residential building, injuring at least three people.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of nearly 3,000 ceasefire breaches during the Easter truce period. Moscow’s forces have also claimed to have been attacked by Ukrainian drones, which they say injured four people.
**The Road Ahead**
As tensions continue to escalate, European and U.S. officials are working towards a potential ceasefire deal in Paris on April 23. However, with Russia’s past rejection of a full 30-day truce and Moscow’s failure to adhere to the Easter ceasefire, it remains uncertain whether a lasting peace can be achieved.
One thing is clear: Ukraine will not back down from its demands for a cease-fire and an end to Russian aggression. As President Zelensky said, “Ukraine maintains its offer not to strike at least at civilian infrastructure. And we expect a clear answer from Moscow.”
Only time will tell if Russia’s charm offensive was indeed just that – or whether it marks the beginning of a genuine effort towards peace in Ukraine.
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