Zelenskyy reiterates to extend ceasefire amid escalating Russian strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated Kyiv’s proposal to extend a ceasefire following Easter, calling for a halt to attacks on civilian infrastructure. The offer remains on the table, he said, emphasizing Ukraine’s continued readiness for dialogue, while accusing Russia of deliberate and escalating attacks across multiple regions.

“Ukraine proposed to extend the ceasefire after Easter and make it comprehensive,” Zelenskyy stated in a post on X. “Our proposal to halt strikes on civilian infrastructure remains on the table as well. What’s needed is genuine readiness from Russia to engage in this conversation.”

The call comes in the wake of a series of Russian attacks that struck several Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Sumy. In Kharkiv, a drone strike sparked fires across multiple districts, while in Zaporizhzhia, aerial bombs hit residential areas, killing a civilian woman and wounding over twenty others, including four children.

Overnight strikes also targeted Odesa, with further shelling reported in Donetsk and Ukraine’s southern regions throughout the day. Zelenskyy described the strikes as “deliberate Russian terror” and noted that peace during Easter proved it could be avoided.

“The violence can be stopped with a single order — an order in Russia and for the Russian army,” Zelenskyy said.