Once again, Vladimir Putin has shown that his word holds little value. His so-called Easter "truce" in the war against Ukraine turned out to be yet another calculated deception. Barely had the ceasefire been announced before Russian forces resumed their assaults, openly violating the agreement their own leader had declared.
Some observers viewed the announcement as a potential signal that Putin might be open to negotiating peace. But Easter provided a convenient moment for him to appear reasonable—particularly to an increasingly skeptical Donald Trump—just as the former U.S. president showed signs of frustration with the Russian leader.
Trump, who once claimed he could end the war within a day or at least by Easter, has failed to deliver on either promise. He proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which Kyiv accepted in good faith. Moscow, however, only agreed on the condition that Ukraine meet a series of unreasonable demands—conditions Kyiv could not possibly accept.
Over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly questioned the point of further diplomatic efforts if Putin remained so unyielding. Soon afterward, the so-called Easter ceasefire was declared. It’s hard not to interpret this as yet another Kremlin maneuver to stall and keep Trump engaged, while quietly widening the divide between Washington and Kyiv. Ukraine fears that American support—both military and financial—could waver if this game continues.
Perhaps the most galling aspect of Putin’s move was his claim that the truce was rooted in "humanitarian" concern. After three years of relentless bombing and destruction, such a statement is an insult. If humanitarianism were truly a priority, he could end the war tomorrow by withdrawing Russian troops.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that, despite the truce, Russian forces continued sporadic attempts to push forward on certain fronts. Predictably, Moscow denied these incursions and instead accused Ukraine of breaking the ceasefire—likely hoping this version of events would resonate more in Washington.
There are those who hope this truce might reflect the results of recent behind-the-scenes diplomacy between U.S. and Russian officials. American envoy Steve Witkoff has met with Putin three times in the past two months. Meanwhile, the Kremlin dispatched Kirill Dmitriev to Washington in a rare move that raised eyebrows.
But the timing of the ceasefire raises questions. Why was it only announced when it seemed the U.S. might walk away from negotiations altogether? If it were genuine, why not earlier?
Still, it might be interpreted as a minor concession from a man known for his refusal to compromise. Yet history shows that Putin rarely acts without a larger strategy in mind—usually one that serves to divide his adversaries. His latest gambit appears aimed at weakening Western unity, especially as support for Ukraine, once vocal and unified, now shows signs of fading.
As always with Putin, the message is clear: any step toward peace must be viewed through a lens of deep skepticism. His actions continue to speak louder than his words.
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