Monday Briefing: A Broken Truce in Ukraine
Image A Ukrainian position in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, on Friday. Credit... Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
Ukraine and Russia yesterday accused each other of violating an Easter truce declared by President Vladimir Putin on Saturday afternoon. The cease-fire, announced as lasting 30 hours, appeared to be a gambit by Putin to show the U.S. that Russia was serious about peace.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who had agreed to abide by the truce so long as Russia did, said that Russian troops had fired artillery, ambushed troops and used drones. Russia's defense ministry said that its forces had observed the truce, and accused Ukraine of violating it with drones and nighttime attacks.
A Ukrainian drone unit commander said that the fighting in eastern Ukraine during the cease-fire was similar to how it had been since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. 'So in reality, there was no cease-fire at all,' he said.
U.S. threat to move on: On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that if the U.S. could not make progress in ending the war, it would walk away. The remarks appeared to pile pressure on Ukraine.
Minerals deal: President Trump has said that he expects to sign a full minerals deal with Ukraine this week. Negotiations on the deal stalled after a blowup weeks ago between the leaders in the Oval Office.
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