Olusegun Ariyo
Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, has upbraided President Vladimir Putin for declaring a temporary “Easter truce” in the three-year-long war.
Sybiha said what everyone expected from Russia was a 30-day cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, not the 30-hour ceasefire Putin announced on Saturday.
In a televised pronouncement, the Russian leader ordered his forces “to stop all fighting” on humanitarian grounds, saying he expects the Ukrainian side to do the same.
Troops should be prepared to respond to “possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions,” Putin added.
In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister accused Putin of insincerity despite Ukraine’s “clear and consistent” disposition to reaching a peace deal.
Sybiha recalled that during the meeting in Jeddah on 11 March, his country “agreed unconditionally” to the United States’ proposal of an interim ceasefire for 30 days.
In a statement posted to X, the Ukrainian official said Russia rejected it, pointing out that the refusal to the U.S. proposition “has already lasted 39 days.”
Sybiha said instead, “The Moscow regime” imposed various conditions and increased terror against civilians and civilian infrastructure throughout Ukraine.
“Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a cease-fire. 30 hours instead of 30 days,” he noted after President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Reaction
Sybiha highlighted the “long history” of Putin’s statements not matching his actions, adding: “We know his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words.”
“This war began and continues only because of Russia,” Sybiha declared, advising Moscow to implement the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day armistice.
“We want to see Russian forces cease fire in all directions,” the minister demanded, and urged all Ukraine’s partners and the international community to be vigilant.
