A reason for doubt or a chance of peace?

Last month, the Trump administration proposed the idea of ​​a comprehensive ceasefire for 30 days.

Ukraine agreed. Russia did not. Or rather, reach a long list of conditions.

Instead of 30 days, the Kremlin decided 30 hours. On Saturday, President Vladimir Putin announced the unilateral Easter truce in Ukraine until midnight on Sunday in Moscow.

He said he was acting from “humanitarian” considerations.

Such a claim of doubt in Ukraine has been met more than three years ago in Russia’s war against the country.

On social media, on Sunday morning, Ukrainian President Folodimir Zelinski published that “the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of the ceasefire, while in some areas it continues in isolated attempts to progress and inflict losses in Ukraine.”

The Russian Ministry of Defense took a different view.

In a statement, he said, “All Russian forces in the private military operation zone (Russia’s term for the invasion of Ukraine) from 18:00 Moscow time on April 19, committed to a strictly committed to the ceasefire system and its current positions.”

The Russian army also accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire.

Did Russian Easter simply stop from Vladimir Putin?

Or is it a real step towards ending the war?

The skeptical view is that the 30 -hour armistice is less than pressure for peace and has a greater relationship to maintain good relationships with the White House Trump. Since Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office, Putin has been busy in an attempt to reform relations with Washington and pave the way for a new era of cooperation.

However, the recent general comments by US officials (including Trump itself) suggested that the American administration is growing with no progress in Ukraine. Trump threatened to stay away from attempts to mediate a peace agreement if there was an unlikely agreement.

By announcing a unilateral truce – albeit short – the Kremlin can argue that Russia – not Ukraine – is committed to peace. Moscow has already blamed Kyiv for violations of the ceasefire and continued fighting.

Consider, a brief ceasefire has been announced in a very short notice. On Saturday, a declaration will not provide little on both sides – Russia or Ukraine – to fully prepare for it.

But there is also a more optimistic view.

The Kremlin’s “Easter” truce was a surprise. But he did not come out of anywhere.

In recent weeks, there has been intense international diplomacy to try to end the fighting.

Trump’s envoy Steve and Yakov Putin met three times in two months. Kremlin leader Kirill Dimitriev’s envoy to Washington recently flew.

A few days ago, Mr. Witkeov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio were in Paris for talks on Ukraine with President Emmanuel Macron. A delegation from Ukraine was there too.

Can there be a rare window of peace opportunities?

Despite continuous fighting reports, can a 30 -hour ceasefire can grow into more essential and more comprehensive?

After showing a little desire to settle or concessions to this point, can Putin be convinced that now a moment to connect a deal?

It is difficult to see that now.

Then again, when it comes to diplomacy, we are not familiar with all the talks behind closed doors or to the details of possible deals under discussion.

We tend to see the tip of the iceberg only – which leaves open to the ability to expected ads.