Zelenski's counter -proposition after the Easter armistice announced by Putin: “Ukraine will act accordingly”
Volodimir Zelenski. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Office / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Volodimir Zelenski said on Saturday night, over three hours after Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral armistice of the Russian army, that it proposes to expand it and beyond the Easter Day.
“This is what will reveal Russia's true intentions – because 30 hours are enough to reach the front page of newspapers, but not for real confidence consolidation. Thirty days could give a chance,” the Ukrainian leader wrote on his account on the X.
“The proposal for a complete and unconditional fire cease for 30 days remained unanswered for 39 days. The United States made this proposal, Ukraine responded positively, but Russia ignored it.
If Russia is now suddenly prepared to truly engage in a form of silence of total and unconditional weapons, Ukraine will act accordingly-in the mirror with the actions of Russia. Silence in response to silence, defensive attacks in response to attacks. If a complete cessation of fire is truly installed, Ukraine proposes its expansion beyond Easter Day, April 20, ”said Zelenski.
“Every Russia's attack will be greeted with an adequate response.”
However, the Ukrainian president states that, according to the reports received from the commander of the Ukrainian army, the Russian forces continue the assaults in several front sectors, as well as the enemy artillery shootings.
“Therefore, there is no confidence in the words that come from Moscow. We know very well how Moscow manipulates and we are prepared for anything. Ukraine's defense forces will act rationally – responding in the same way. Every Russia's attack will be met with an adequate response,” Zelenski added.
The reaction comes after Vladimir Putin surprisingly announced that Russia ceases all the military operations on April 19, 6:00 pm (the same in Romania), until April 21, 00:00, Moscow time.
“After that, the president in him began to speak. Or maybe the man.” The irony by which a journalist from Moscow, present on the spot, described the surprise of the Easter armistice, announced by Putin
The Russian Ministry of Defense later announced that it has given instructions on ceasing the fire to all group commanders in the area of ”Special Military Operation”, the term used by the Kremlin.
Russian troops will adhere to the cessation of fire, provided it is “respected each other” by Ukraine, the ministry said in a press statement.
The Ukrainians also received the order to stop pulling
A senior officer in the Ukrainian army told the BBC that his unit, along with others, was ordered to cease the fire over the Russian positions a few minutes after the Easter armistice announced by Vladimir Putin was to enter into force.
According to him, the units were trained to record photo and video evidence of the armistice violations and to respond if necessary.
A Ukrainian official said on Saturday that Russian forces continue to draw on Ukrainian positions despite the Russian President Vladimir Putin a cessation of Easter fire.
“The Russians are trying to claim that they are” peacekeepers “, but they have already refused an unconditional cessation on March 11, and now they are carrying out an information operation, talking about an” armistice “, but continuing to shoot without stop,” wrote on Telegram Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Center for the Consignment.
“All this is for the purpose of blaming Ukraine,” Kovalenko wrote, whose center is a body within the National Security and Defense Council.
