**Putin Proposes 30-Hour Easter Truce, Ukraine Skeptical of Intentions**

**Vladimir Putin's sudden declaration of an Easter truce for 30 hours raises doubts in Ukraine, as leaders emphasize past inconsistencies in Russian commitments.**

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, instructing his military forces to halt all military operations for a period corresponding to the Easter holiday. This truce, lasting 30 hours until 22:00 BST on Sunday (00:00 Moscow time), includes a warning for Russian troops to remain vigilant against any potential violations from Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, has expressed skepticism regarding the sincerity of Putin's announcement. He characterized the move as exploitation of human life and refused to verify if Ukraine would comply with the proposed truce, noting that Russian drones were spotted in Ukraine's airspace just before it was to commence.

In a statement on social media, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha highlighted that Ukraine had previously agreed to a US-brokered 30-day ceasefire. He remarked on the discrepancy between Putin's claims and past actions, asserting, "We know his words cannot be trusted." The foreign minister underscored the need for actions to be taken into account rather than mere proclamations.

The declaration was made during a meeting with Putin's chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov. Putin cited humanitarian reasons for the ceasefire, stating that they assume Ukraine would reciprocate. The Russian defense ministry maintained that their enforcement of the ceasefire would be contingent upon mutual respect from Ukraine.

This is not the first instance where Russia has announced a ceasefire only for it to dissolve shortly thereafter; earlier attempts during the Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 collapsed amid both sides’ inability to reach a consensus.

The ongoing conflict, which effectively escalated on February 24, 2022, has claimed lives on all sides, with estimates suggesting that hundreds of thousands—primarily military personnel—have been casualties. The United States has engaged in direct discussions with Russia, yet progress remains stifled.

Recently, US President Donald Trump warned that the US would seek to step back from mediating further negotiations if tangible results are not achieved soon, following statements from Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizing a need for swift determinations regarding the possibility of peace talks.

With two contrasting narratives emerging over the supposed truce, the situation remains tense as the world watches the unfolding events in Ukraine.