The Kremlin has officially announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not given any order to extend the Easter ceasefire in Ukraine. The statement was made by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and reported by the Russian state-run TASS news agency on Sunday.
The temporary ceasefire, which was arranged to coincide with the Orthodox Easter celebrations, is set to expire at midnight local time (2100 GMT) on Sunday.
Despite appeals from international humanitarian groups, religious leaders, and foreign governments for a longer truce to allow civilians in conflict zones to observe the religious holiday in safety, no extension has been authorized.
“The President has not issued any instructions regarding an extension of the ceasefire,” Peskov said, according to TASS. He added no new negotiations on the matter were currently underway.
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The ceasefire, which was declared earlier this week, had been viewed by many as a rare opportunity for both sides to pause hostilities, tend to the wounded, and allow civilians to seek shelter or evacuate dangerous areas.
However, reports from both Ukrainian and independent international observers indicated sporadic violations of the truce in some regions.
The Ukrainian government had previously expressed skepticism about the sincerity of the ceasefire, accusing Russian forces of using temporary pauses in fighting to regroup and reposition.
Ukrainian officials had also urged the international community to press Moscow for a more meaningful and longer-lasting truce, particularly during one of the most significant religious holidays in the Orthodox Christian calendar.
As the ceasefire deadline approaches, concerns are rising over the possibility of renewed and intensified fighting once it officially ends.
The conflict, which has now stretched on for over two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has resulted in thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, and severe humanitarian crises in multiple regions.
Diplomatic efforts to reach a broader peace agreement remain stalled, with both sides blaming one another for the breakdown of negotiations.
Western nations have continued to support Ukraine with military aid and sanctions against Russia, while Moscow insists its military actions are justified by security concerns and the defense of Russian-speaking populations in eastern Ukraine.
With the Easter ceasefire nearing its expiration and no extension in place, the international community is bracing for the potential consequences, as hopes for a longer reprieve fade and the war grinds on.
See also:Russia-Ukraine War: US Says It Would Welcome Extension of Ceasefire
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