Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected Russian leader Vladimir Putin's initiative to introduce a temporary ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter, from 18:00 on April 19 to 00:00 on April 21, 2025. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing statements by the Ukrainian authorities. Zelensky called the proposal "another attempt to manipulate people's lives," pointing out the discrepancy between Moscow's words and its actions. In particular, he noted that 45 minutes before the start of the announced ceasefire, at 17:15 on April 19, an air raid alert was declared in Ukraine due to Russian attack drones.

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine had already agreed in March to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States at the talks in Jeddah, but Moscow had rejected the initiative at the time.

The context of Zelensky’s refusal is linked to the ongoing escalation of the conflict and preparations for important talks in London scheduled for next week. According to Reuters, the US intends to present a “final proposal” for a settlement that includes a discussion of the status of disputed territories and Ukraine’s refusal to join NATO. According to The New York Post, Kyiv is 90% supportive of the Trump administration’s plan, but maintains a tough stance on security issues. The rejection of the Easter truce could be a signal that Ukraine is not ready for unilateral concessions without guarantees from the international community.