Russia Denies Breaking Easter Ceasefire Deal

Russia has denied allegations that it breached the Easter ceasefire it entered with Ukraine, which has lasted for about four years.

In just hours, Vladimir Putin’s so-called “Easter truce” will lapse, and heavy fighting in Ukraine is expected to resume.

The 30-hour ceasefire was announced by the president just moments before it took effect, with an expectation that Ukraine would follow suit.

Volodymyr Zelensky did agree to match Russia’s pause, saying Ukraine would “mirror” their actions.

He then called for the truce to be extended to 30 days – a proposal Putin has refused before.

At this point, it looks unlikely the truce will be extended—Moscow has not indicated that it will extend beyond its midnight (22:00 BST) deadline.

This week, talks involving the US on a long-term ceasefire are set to continue in London, and a mineral deal between Ukraine and the US is also expected to be signed.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andriy Sybiha says Zelensky’s team still hasn’t heard from Russia about extending the ceasefire, with the deadline now less than four hours away.

Putin’s “Easter truce” is set to expire at 22:00 BST (midnight in Moscow). Sybiha says that Ukraine has proposed extending the ceasefire past midnight and is open to a 30-day complete ceasefire “if Russia reciprocates”.

“We have yet to hear any response from Moscow,” he says.

We’ve just heard from Victoria Vdovychenko from the University of Cambridge’s Future of Ukraine Project, external, talking about the “Easter truce”.

Looking ahead, Vdovychenko tells BBC News Channel how this week unfolds will be important in shaping the US position on Ukraine policy, as Ukrainian officials are set to sign an economic deal with the US.

Meanwhile, both Ukraine and Russia are going to “continue to blame one another,” she says, as each side claims the other is carrying out attacks.

US, European, and Ukrainian officials have agreed to meet in London this week to continue discussions on the war in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said, externally, after senior diplomats met in Paris on Thursday.

The Parisian meeting marked the first high-level summit between American, European and Ukrainian officials.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the talks were constructive. However, a day later, he prompted concern when he said the US could “move on” from peace negotiations if a deal failed to materialise.

“We’re not going to continue to fly all over the world and do meeting after meeting after meeting if no progress is being made,” Rubio said.