Moscow – A fragile Easter truce in Ukraine dissolved quickly, with Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing a resumption of military operations. The Kremlin accused Kyiv of exploiting civilian infrastructure for military purposes,further escalating tensions between the two nations.

Ceasefire Breakdown: A Timeline of Accusations

• Russian Outlook: The Russian Ministry of Defense asserted its forces adhered to a strict ceasefire, remaining in designated positions.They accused Ukraine of violating the agreed-upon armistice.
• Putin’s Stance: In statements to Russian television,Putin expressed a positive position toward peace initiatives,but questioned Kyiv’s sincerity. He characterized Ukraine’s engagement with the ceasefire as more like a game, according to TASS news agency.
• Kyiv’s Actions: Putin suggested Kyiv was attempting to leverage the ceasefire for strategic advantage, stating, is trying to seize the opportunity with a new ceasefire proposal. He added, We have to look at the results of the ceasefire and the activity of Ukraine has decreased during the armistice.

Civilian Infrastructure: A Point of Contention

President Putin emphasized the need to examine initiatives aimed at protecting civilian targets. He reiterated Russia’s accusation that Ukraine uses civilian facilities for military purposes. This claim has been a recurring justification for Russian military actions in the conflict.

Kremlin’s Satisfaction with U.S.Position on NATO

The Kremlin expressed satisfaction with the stance of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s management regarding Ukraine’s potential NATO membership. While refraining from commenting on Trump’s hopes for a swift agreement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the importance of the U.S. position.

We heard from Washington at different levels that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is excluded. Of course, this is something that satisfies us and corresponds to our position.

Dmitry Peskov, kremlin Spokesman

Peskov reiterated that President putin and Russia remain open to finding a resolution to the Ukrainian crisis and that collaboration with the United States continues.

NATO Membership: A Red Line for Russia

Peskov asserted that Ukraine’s integration into the U.S.-led coalition will pose a threat to the national interests of the Russian Federation. In fact, this is one of the radical reasons for this conflict. This echoes Putin’s repeated statements that Russia is prepared to end the war if Ukraine abandons its NATO aspirations and withdraws its forces from the four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia.

Potential for Negotiation: Trump’s Optimism

Reuters reported in november 2024 that Putin is open to negotiating an agreement with Trump, but will insist on Ukraine relinquishing its NATO ambitions and will not make significant territorial concessions. Trump expressed hope on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine would reach an agreement this week to end the conflict.

When asked about these statements, peskov said: I do not want any comments now, especially regarding the time frame.

Seeking a Peaceful resolution

Despite the renewed fighting, Peskov emphasized Russia’s continued openness to a peaceful settlement. President Putin and the Russian side are still open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side,and of course,we hope this work will result in results.

He declined to comment directly on a Bloomberg report suggesting the United States was prepared to recognize russian control of crimea as part of a broader peace agreement, stating, Working to find a peaceful settlement cannot happen, and it should not happen publicly.

Accusations of Truce Violations

Both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of violating the Easter truce,with each side reporting numerous attacks. Washington expressed support for extending the truce, echoing Ukrainian President volodymyr Zelenskyy’s repeated offers to halt strikes for 30 days.

Peskov stated, We will provide all parties interested in all data related to the facts of violating the Easter truce by the Ukrainian forces, shortly after the truce ended.

Escalating Tensions on the Ground

Air raid warnings sounded in eastern Ukraine shortly after midnight, gradually spreading towards the central regions. While there were no immediate reports of attacks on Kyiv, officials in Mykolaiv reported Russian missile strikes. Ukrainian forces reported nearly 3,000 ceasefire violations,while the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed Ukrainian forces opened fire on Russian positions 444 times and launched over 900 drone attacks,resulting in civilian casualties.