Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of violating a 30-hour Easter truce, announced by a Russian president on Saturday.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski said the front line of Ukraine had been affected by more than 46 Russian attacks since the beginning of the day on Sunday. The BBC has not independently checked these figures.
In response, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had “repelled” an attempt to attack Ukraine and accused Kiev of launching hundreds of drones and shells, according to state media sources.
On Saturday, Putin said there would be an end to all the hostilities from 16:00 BST on Saturday to 10:00 pm BST (midnight in Moscow) on Sunday. Kyiv said that would also stick.
“During this period, I command all hostilities to end,” Putin said in his message.
“We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible disorders of the armistice and provocations from the enemy, each of its aggressive actions.”
Zelenski, however, said Ukraine saw hundreds of attacks and launch of drones on Sunday and that Putin's declaration of a truce is a “PR” exercise.
Zelenski added that Vladimir Putin's words were “empty” and he accused the Kremlin of trying to create “a general impression of ceasefire.”
“This Easter clearly demonstrates that the only source of this war and the reason why it is dragged is Russia,” the president said on Sunday.
The Russian Ministry of Defense insisted that his troops “strictly observed the termination of fire.”
The Surprising Message “The Easter Targery” came shortly thereafter US President Donald Trump has threatened to “take a gap” for mediation in Russia-Ukraine peace negotiationsS
Ukraine had said it would be ready to extend the truce that should end at local midnight tonight (22:00 BST).
There were mixed reactions about the 30-hour truce from Ukrainians visiting Easter morning services in Kiev and occupied by the Russian city of Donetsk on Sunday.
“I don't think this man (Putin) has anything to do with humanity,” said 45-year-old lawyer Olena Paric in front of the Reuters news agency.
In Donetsk, in the meantime, where much of the city has been under Russian control since 2014, residents have expressed such distrust that Zelenski will adhere to the conditions of termination of fire.
“I was looking at his (Zelenski) reactions a lot,” said Vladimir, who attended an Easter morning service in Donetsk. “There was nothing to end the fire … Just some vague statements, not giving confidence that we would not be fired.”
On Sunday, the British government defined the proposed ceasefire as a “one -day stuntman”, saying that the claimed truce included “violations, including the murder and wounding of more Individual Ukrainians.”
The statement of the Foreign, Municipal and Development Service (FCDO) said that the truce installed the “model of previous fakes” and instead called for a longer 30 -day pause in the fights, as proposed by Ukraine.
“As always, we do not see evidence that President Putin is seriously preparing for peace,” the FCDO statement said.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other for breaking the truce. Putin has announced a one -day end of fire in Ukraine until midnight Moscow's time (2100 GMT) on Sunday.
Russia began a full -scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people – the greater part of them soldiers – were killed or wounded by all countries.
The United States is directly talking to Russia as part of its efforts to end war, but is struggling to make great progress.
Last month, Moscow came up with a long list of conditions in response to a complete and unconditional termination of the fire, which was agreed by the US and Ukraine.
On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States “would not continue with this endeavor weeks and months at the end” as there are “other priorities to focus on.”
“Now we have to determine very quickly – and I'm talking for a few days – whether it is possible or not,” he added.
“If that doesn't happen, then we'll just go on.”