Zelensky reacts sceptically to Putin’s Easter ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed scepticism about the unilateral Easter ceasefire unexpectedly announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

“As for Putin’s new attempt to play with human lives, air-raid sirens are currently sounding in many parts of Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote on the platform X.

Russian combat drones were reportedly sighted in the sky over Ukraine 45 minutes before the ceasefire was due to take effect. Ukraine’s air defence had already opened fire.

“Shahed drones in our sky expose Putin’s true attitude towards Easter and human lives,” Zelensky criticized.

The president initially did not provide any information on whether Ukraine would also cease fire over Easter.

At the moment of the Kremlin’s announcement of the unilateral Easter ceasefire, a missile alert was also triggered in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.