**Ukraine Proposes 30-Day Ceasefire on Long-Range Drone and Missile Strikes**
In a bid to bring peace to the war-torn country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a 30-day ceasefire on long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure. This proposal comes amid a so-called “Easter truce” initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was supposed to last until midnight on April 21.
However, despite Putin’s promise to halt all combat operations over the holiday weekend, Moscow has reportedly violated the temporary ceasefire multiple times. Front-line reports indicate that Russia breached the truce over 2,000 times, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
**Russia Fails to Extend Ceasefire**
Putin’s plan was to let the truce expire at midnight on April 21, but Zelensky urged Russia to adopt a ban on aerial attacks on civilian targets. The Ukrainian president called for an extension of the ceasefire to 30 days, which aligns with a U.S. proposal for an interim ceasefire that Ukraine has supported since March.
However, Putin has given no orders to extend the ceasefire, according to Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. This comes despite a statement from the U.S. State Department reiterating Washington’s commitment to “a full and comprehensive ceasefire” and saying they “would welcome (the truce) extending beyond Sunday.”
**Background: Recent Attacks**
In the days leading up to Easter, Russia launched deadly ballistic missile strikes on Ukrainian cities during major Orthodox holidays. An attack on downtown Sumy on Palm Sunday killed 35 people and injured over 100, while a strike on Kharkiv on Good Friday killed one person and injured 120.
These attacks followed a pattern of Russian aggression in Ukraine, with Putin’s truce declaration on April 19 coming amid international pressure to cease hostilities. Zelensky called on Moscow to extend the ceasefire beyond Easter Sunday, but Russia has refused to do so.
**U.S. Role in Conflict**
The U.S. State Department has been actively involved in mediating peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. However, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to pull U.S. support from these talks if either Russia or Ukraine made the process “difficult.” This move was seen as an attempt to pressure both sides into reaching a deal.
**What’s Next?**
The proposal by Zelensky for a 30-day ceasefire on long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure is a significant step towards bringing peace to Ukraine. However, it remains to be seen whether Russia will accept this offer or continue with its aggressive stance.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, one thing is clear: the international community must come together to pressure both sides into finding a peaceful solution. The fate of Ukraine and its people hangs in the balance, and it’s crucial that we take action to prevent further bloodshed.
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