VLADIMIR Putin has declared a truce with Ukraine over the Easter period - but Volodymyr Zelensky says Russian attacks on his troops are "still ongoing".
The Russian president claimed he ordered his meatgrinder forces to halt their battlefield onslaught from tonight up until midnight on Monday, the Kremlin announced.
Putin made the Easter truce statement during a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.
The despot said: "Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce.
"I order all military actions to be stopped for this period."
Despite the tyrant saying his decision is due to "humanitarian considerations", his war has led to the death of countless men and women.
And while Zelensky said that Ukraine is willing to "mirror Russia's actions" in response to the truce, the brave president revealed that "Russian assault operations" have continued - insinuating mad Vlad has lied.
The president said today: "As of Easter morning, we can say that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places, it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine."
He reported at least 59 instances of Russian shelling as well as dozens of drone attacks in the past 15 hours alone.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha earlier said that Kyiv would judge the Russian dictator by his actions instead of words, adding that he "cannot be trusted".
A mere few hours into the so-called Easter truce, Ukrainian air force issued a warning on the "threat of ballistic weapons in areas where air alert has been declared".
Children and innocent civilians have been caught up in Russia's horror campaign of violence across the past three years.
One of the most haunting strikes ordered by Putin came less than a week ago.
The heartless dictator killed 34 people - including young kids - in a Russian missile attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday.
These constant assaults on Ukraine have raised serious fears over what it may take for Putin to ever stop the conflict.
His suggestion of an Easter truce will be seen a positive step towards a much needed peace in Eastern Europe - even if it is only set to last for a few days.
Putin's suggested deal started at 6pm (4pm UK time) and will continue through to Monday, according to the Kremlin.
Kyiv is yet to respond to the apparent declaration of peace.
Minutes after Putin's statement, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky released a post on X where he again slammed Russia for "playing with human lives".
There was no mention of the truce proposal in the message.
But a brazen Moscow has said it is assuming the Ukrainians "will follow our example".
Putin also warned his troops will remain "ready to repel" any actions he deems as a violation of his temporary truce.
It is the first time Russia has allowed for a period of peace since Putin's illegal full scale invasion first kicked off the war in February 2022.
An "Easter truce" between the two nations has been on the cards before.
Just months into the barbaric attack, a proposal was made to halt the fighting between April 21 and 25.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the terms for a temporary truce which would allow for the "opening of a series of humanitarian corridors" to allow civilians to safely leave.
However, Russia refused the truce as they believed it would only be used to allow Kyiv to regroup and refocus.
This weekend also marks the largest exchange of prisoners for both sides in the conflict.
The Russian defence ministry said 246 Russian servicemen were returned "from the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime".
As Zelensky said "277 warriors returned home" including 31 seriously wounded prisoner of wars.
By Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter
PRESIDENT Trump has become increasingly frustrated by Russia's refusal to end the war.
Just before his envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin, Trump warned the Russian leader to "get moving" and sign a full ceasefire deal.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump said: "Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war.
"A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!"
Then, on Saturday night, he doubled down with a stern message for Putin.
He said: "I think Ukraine-Russia might be going OK. And you're going to be find out pretty soon.
"There's a point at which you have to either put up or shut up. We'll see what happens. But I think it's going fine."
This week's US-Russia meeting was the third of its kind this year.
There had been speculation that the US would set a deadline for Russia to sign a deal - with April 30 chalked as a possible red line.
A ceasefire deal known as the Black Sea Truce was brokered by the US at the end of March.
The warring sides agreed to halt all strikes in the Black Sea, as well as any action against energy or infrastructure targets.
Zelensky has since accused Ukraine of violating the terms of the truce.
Pressure has been applied on Putin to show a genuine want to end the war after he met with US officials earlier this week.
Donald Trump's Secretary of State Marc Rubio warned that talks over ending the war needed to progress "very quickly".
He also said the US will walk away from brokering peace talks between Ukraine and Russia unless there is a deal done within days.
His comments come after President Trump issued a blistering warning to Putin to "get moving" last week.
The Republican was also questioned over his relationship with Putin on Friday.
He denied the Kremlin is playing him after they have repeatedly ignored Trump's calls for both sides to agree to a long-term truce.
"Nobody is playing me. I'm trying to help," the president said.
He also told reporters at The White House he is now expecting to see "enthusiasm" from both sides as ceasefire talks ramps up.
Europe has also been pressuring Russia to accept a deal in order to allow Ukraine to recover from the three years of bloodshed.
Britain's Sir Keir Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron have been leading the way in support for Ukraine in the previous months.
Both have called on Putin to "stop playing games" and come to the table so ceasefire terms can be fairly hashed out.
The Kremlin has widely dismissed the calls from European leaders and instead warned their pleas and precautions will be taken as direct threats.
One of Vlad's biggest issues is over a potential peacekeeping force being sent to Ukraine to police a peace deal.
The UK has announced it is considering sending troops to Ukraine for a number of years.
France has also revealed they may "mobilise civilians" to counter a looming Russian threat in the future.
Elsewhere, Poland and the Baltic states have started to sure up their own defences.
Warsaw has allegedly planned to deploy up to two million anti-tank mines along its borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region.
This would be done to protect Poland from any potential joint Russian and Belarusian invasion threat, according to the state-run news agency BelTA.
Latvia is also said to be “looking into all possible options" to help strengthen its deterrence and defense capabilities”, according to Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds.
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