Volodymyr Zelensky slams Russia for rejecting Ukraines Easter truce offer

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday decried Russia’s rejection of a temporary truce for Easter, which is celebrated on two different dates by Catholic Christians and Orthodox Christians, criticising Moscow’s ill-treatment of the Christian faith.

Ukraine, where a large section of the population follows Orthodox Christianity, will mark Easter on Sunday, April 24, amid the ongoing war.

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Commenting on the auspicious day, Zelensky, in his nightly video address on Thursday said, “Tomorrow is Good Friday for Eastern Christians … the most sorrowful day of the year a day when everything you can do in life will weigh less than prayer. Except for one [thing]… defending the Homeland, defending brothers-in-arms in battle.”

“Unfortunately, Russia rejected the proposal to establish an Easter truce,” Zelensky said about Ukrainian efforts to negotiate a temporary ceasefire.

“This shows very well how the leaders of this state [Russia] actually treat the Christian faith, one of the most joyful and important holidays. But we keep our hope. Hope for peace, hope that life will overcome death,” the 44-year-old said, referring to the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion.

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Russia’s rejection of an offer for a temporary truce comes amid Moscow’s declaration of renewed efforts to capture the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, where the Russia-backed Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic have claimed independence from Kyiv.

Reports suggest that Russian Vladimir Putin is looking for a swift victory in the Donbas by May 9, the day Russia celebrates the USSR’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Given Russia’s revised objectives, the coming days could see considerable fighting in the east, especially with Russian forces now under the command of General Aleksandr Dvornikov, whose actions in support of the Bashar al-Assad regime between 2015 and 2016 earned him the moniker, ‘The Butcher of Syria.’