The “Easter truce” proposed by Russian ruler Vladimir Putin is a ploy, the cynicism of which became obvious when the occupiers continued their attacks, violating their own promises, The Telegraph says in its editorial. 

“Some see in his willingness even to contemplate such a move a sign that he might be ready to agree to a peace deal. But Easter was a convenient point at which to try to keep a gullible US president on board amid indications that Donald Trump was losing patience with the Russian leader,” the report reads. 

US President Donald Trump previously claimed he could end the war in one day or at least by Easter, but he failed to fulfill either promise. In particular, the US president proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine agreed to, but Moscow refused to support the proposal until a list of conditions unacceptable to Kyiv was met, the journalists noted. 

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the peace talks would be pointless if Putin persisted in his stance. 

“It is hard not to see this as another attempt by the Kremlin to string Mr Trump along and separate Washington further from Ukraine, where there are fears the Americans will lose interest and stop arms supplies and assistance,” the editorial says. 

The Telegraph underlines that the greatest insult after three years of bombings is the claim that the Russian leader acted out of “humanitarian” motives. If that were the case, he would stop the war today and withdraw his troops, but that did not happen.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that although the Russian army is trying to create an overall impression of a ceasefire, Russia was still attempting to advance in some areas during the ceasefire. 

However, optimists claim that the “truce” was achieved due to high-level diplomacy between the White House and the Kremlin.

“But if the ceasefire is well meant, why did it only happen when it seemed as if the Americans were about to pull the plug on the whole process?” the journalists asked. 

At the very least, it can be seen as a concession from the Russian leader, who had previously adamantly refused to consider any compromises.

But Putin does nothing that is not calculated to advance his own interests and further divide the West, whose once fervent support for Ukraine is becoming increasingly half-hearted, The Telegraph warned.