Ukrainian president proposes extended ceasefire after Easter to foster peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed extending the current ceasefire regime following the Easter holiday, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive halt to hostilities.

The proposal, which includes a continued moratorium on attacks against civilian infrastructure, was shared by the president on social media platform X, Caliber.Az reports.

Rescue operations are currently underway in Kharkiv following a Russian drone strike. A cynical strike. Fires broke out in several districts of the city.

Earlier today Zaporizhzhia was also brutally struck with aerial bombs. Ordinary residential buildings were damaged.… pic.twitter.com/bMrAUzeEKb

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 22, 2025

According to Zelenskyy, the initiative aims to foster peace and reduce the human toll of the ongoing conflict, though he made it clear that the success of the extension hinges on Russia's genuine willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue.

"Our proposal to stop strikes on civilian infrastructure remains on the table," Zelenskyy wrote. "What is needed is Russia's genuine willingness to enter this conversation."

The ceasefire proposal comes amid ongoing efforts by Ukraine to mitigate the devastating impacts of the war on its citizens and infrastructure. The Ukrainian government has repeatedly called for a cessation of hostilities as part of broader peace negotiations, while Russia’s response to such initiatives remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated, for the first time since the early stages of the conflict, that he is open to bilateral discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking to Russian state television on April 21, Putin expressed that Russia has "always viewed peace initiatives positively," adding, "We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that Putin’s remarks signal a readiness to engage in direct talks with Ukraine, specifically concerning the cessation of attacks on civilian targets.

However, despite these comments, Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities have persisted. On April 22, a Russian missile hit an apartment block in Zaporizhzhia, resulting in the death of one woman and injuring 15 others, including two children.

By Vafa Guliyeva