Ukraine is holding firm on its Easter ceasefire proposal despite Russia’s “unreadiness,” according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Speaking to reporters in a closed-door meeting, Zelensky said he had sent the proposal to Washington to relay to Moscow – tacitly confirming the Kremlin’s earlier hints that Kyiv and Moscow are not in direct contact, instead communicating via the US.
“We’ve all seen their response in the media: They seem not ready for this. I don’t know how serious it is. We’ve conveyed our request to the American side,” Zelensky said.
“I don’t know if they’ve had a chance to communicate with the Russians yet. We’ll see. Our proposal for a ceasefire over Easter remains,” he added.
On April 1, Zelensky condemned Russia’s overnight drone attacks on Ukraine, calling the use of 339 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Moscow’s “response to diplomatic efforts.”
Emergency crews battled fires in Lutsk, the administrative center of western Ukraine’s Volyn region, after the drone strikes. Several other regions – including Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Poltava, Odesa, Kharkiv and Khmelnytsky – also came under attack overnight.
“This overnight attack is actually Russia’s response to diplomatic efforts. We proposed a ceasefire for Easter – in response we get Shaheds,” Zelensky said at the time.
He added that Ukraine had also suggested a ceasefire specifically covering energy infrastructure, but Russia continues to ignore it, repeatedly targeting substations and transformers.
“Ukraine is working with partners to expand joint capabilities to protect lives, while Russia drags out the war in Europe and openly invests in supporting the Iranian regime in fomenting conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf,” Zelensky said.
The president added that Russia remains a global threat and that its disregard for life and peace undermines diplomatic efforts.
Zelensky proposed an Easter ceasefire on Monday, including a halt to energy infrastructure attacks. He said that while he prefers a long-term truce, short-term compromises could work if Ukraine’s “dignity and sovereignty” are respected.
“We are ready for a ceasefire for the Easter holidays. Normal people who respect life talk about ending the war, not just a few days of peace,” he said.
“We are open to a complete ceasefire – on missiles, drones, food, and energy – across all sectors. If Russia is ready, we are ready,” Zelensky added.
Most of Ukraine will observe Orthodox Easter on April 12.
Kyiv and Moscow have proposed multiple ceasefires over four years of fighting, but none have produced a meaningful truce.
In March 2022, talks in Istanbul at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion collapsed after the Bucha atrocities emerged. The UN suggested an Easter ceasefire that year, but Russia rejected it.
In January 2023, Moscow announced a 36-hour Orthodox Christmas truce, dismissed by Kyiv as “hypocrisy.” Throughout 2024, ceasefire rumors circulated, but no concrete agreements were reached.
In March 2025, a 30-day energy truce was announced after US President Donald Trump’s re-election, but differing interpretations prevented its implementation.
An Easter ceasefire that year was partially observed, while a May unilateral Victory Day truce by Moscow had little effect on the fighting, according to Ukrainian frontline accounts. Europe pressured Russia with a ceasefire ultimatum that month, resulting in prisoner exchanges but still no ceasefire.
Later in 2025, the Trump administration threatened Moscow with sanctions for failing to negotiate a ceasefire.
In December 2025, Russia rejected Germany’s Christmas truce proposal, insisting it would continue pursuing its goals in Ukraine.