Most of the citizens of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, with whom the DW spoke, were skeptical about Putin's alleged "humanist" gesture. I don't believe that for a second. Putin never keeps his word. It's all a farce," said Kiev's DW.
Russian president Vladimir Putin on Monday (21.04.2025) completed a 30-hour ceasefire that he had previously announced for "humanitarian reasons", only 2 hours in advance. The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenski, initially accused Putin of playing with people's lives, but yet agreed to a ceasefire.
Searching for an excuse to fight
Volodymyr Fesenko, president of the Center for Applied Political investigation “Penta” in Kiev, told the DW that Russia deliberately provoked the fighting during the ceasefire and utilized the truce as a cover for offensive operations in any areas.
The Ukrainian president wrote on Monday on the Telegram channel that Russia violated its own ceasefire 2935 times. Volodymyr Zelenski added that the Kremlin did not respond to his proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and added that the Ukrainian army would act "symmetrically".
“We will answer silence with silence. We will respond to Russian attacks with counterattacks in defence," the published message said. The Kremlin replied that Putin did not issue any orders to extend the "large-night ceasefire" he had announced.
The U.S. State Department's call to extend the ceasefire was rejected by Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zacharowa. The reason is that Kiev did not comply with the terms of the ceasefire.
Why was the truce so short?
Many observers pointed out that Putin announced the ceasefire in a very short time. From his declaration to the start of the ceasefire, it would only be 2 hours. Ukraine would be hard to prepare technically for a ceasefire on specified short notice.
Volodymyr Fesenko believes Putin, announcing a unilateral ceasefire, wanted to set a trap for Ukraine. Kiev had to make a political decision within 2 hours, coordinate it and then give orders to the military.
Of course, Ukraine could not start the ceasefire at 6:00, even if it wanted to. It would just be impossible,” said the expert.
Putin decided to delight Trump?
The Easter ceasefire was originally the thought of the president of the United States. Last week, Doland Trump threatened to abandon his efforts to advance peace in Ukraine and to retreat from the negotiation process if he did not see the will of Russia and Ukraine to scope an agreement.
The political analysts with whom the DW spoke are convinced that Putin wants to proceed negotiations with the US and so announced a ceasefire.
Nikolai Petrov, a visiting investigator at the discipline and Politics Foundation in Berlin, is of the opinion that Vladimir Putin decided to keep contact with Trump. – The ceasefire, even if only for 30 hours, occurred precisely on Easter, as the Americans had previously demanded. It looks very good [for the Kremlin]. Especially due to the fact that the initiative came from Russia, and above all due to the fact that it does not truly oblige it to anything," stressed Nikolai Petrov.
Besides, Putin was besides able to accomplish any of his own goals. Volodymyr Fesenko points out, among another things, the weakening of Western unity, the simplification of Russia's dependence on China and its return to the exclusive club of influential Heads of State and Government.
What happens now?
Two hours before the end of the Easter ceasefire, U.S. president Donald Trump wrote on his community platform fact Social that Russia and Ukraine "let's hope to scope an agreement this week." He promised that this would give both countries the chance to enter into a "big deal" with the US.
Political analysts agree that Trump is trying to pull the US out of this conflict, but have different views on whether he will actively prosecute peace between Ukraine and Russia. “Trump’s position is not to accomplish peace in Ukraine at all costs, but to retreat the US from this war,” says Nikolai Petrov.
In his opinion, the Washington administration focuses on ending its commitment to the war in Ukraine and does not care whether this happens in the context of a long ceasefire or lasting peace.
Volodymyr Fesenko, on the another hand, is convinced that Donald Trump can stay with his sentence, as Putin at least partially agreed to his demands and announced the ceasefire. In the expert's opinion, Trump will now even more actively press for a complete ceasefire.
