Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently emphasized that the country will act based on a principle of mirror response in the potential ceasefire process with Russia
At the same time, he stressed that the situation at the front remains tense: Russian troops continue assault operations and have not reduced artillery shelling activities, which indicates a lack of genuine peace intentions on Moscow’s part. The head of state shared this information via Telegram, and Ukrainian sources, including the Ukrainian Pravda (UP), confirmed it. Zelenskyy recalled that on March 30, the United States proposed establishing a 30-day silence regime—in other words, a complete ceasefire—which Ukraine supported. Meanwhile, Kremlin representatives had expressed more favorable views regarding this initiative at that time. However, the Ukrainian leader underscored that a ceasefire must be mutual and unconditional. According to him, if Russia truly commits to such a step, Ukraine will respond in kind—halting assaults and artillery use in response to Russian actions. Nonetheless, Zelenskyy clearly indicated that trust in Moscow’s statements is currently unwarranted, as Moscow actively manipulates and exploits any opportunity for deception. The head of state added that if Russia is genuinely ready for silence and stops shelling, Ukraine is prepared to consider extending the truce beyond the Easter period, ending on April 20. He believes this could be an opportunity for peaceful conflict resolution, since a three-day period is the minimum required to demonstrate serious intentions and build trust. However, the current situation raises serious doubts. According to Ukrainian military command, active Russian assaults and artillery shelling continue on certain front sections. Military officials report that many shellings occur in the Liman and Kramatorsk regions, where, by the evening of April 19, enemy activity had significantly decreased but not ceased entirely. The situation remains particularly tense in the Kupiansk direction: Ukrainian military reports indicate low-intensity shellings around the clock, but the fact remains that on Saturday, Kupiansk was hit by a Russian missile, and there are ongoing discussions about a possible "rehearsal" ceasefire, supposedly beginning at 6 p.m. Overall, Ukrainian military officials and experts remain skeptical about long-term agreements with Moscow. They are convinced that the Kremlin exploits every opportunity to continue aggression under the guise of declaring ceasefires, and their real intentions are clearly reflected in their actions on the front. Zelenskyy reiterated that the Ukrainian armed forces and leadership will act strictly rationally, responsibly, and in a mirror-like manner—each strike will be met with an appropriate response to maintain defensive positions and prevent further escalation of the conflict. Regarding specific developments, reports from Ukrainian Joint Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi are periodically expected in the evening, which will clarify the situation at the front and how much the threat from the enemy has diminished. According to Ukrainian military sources, after 6 p.m. on April 19, Russian activity in some areas, including around Liman and Kramatorsk, had de facto decreased, but not halted. The day remained tense once again, as on Saturday Russia declared a "Easter truce" and announced a halt to hostilities from the evening of April 19 to midnight of April 21. Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that Russian troops observe the ceasefire regime contingent on mutual compliance by Ukraine. However, Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, stated that Russian strikes and drone activity continue even after the announcement of the truce. They emphasized that Ukraine agreed to the US proposal for a 30-day cessation on March 11 and is eager to see tangible steps from Moscow. Separately, Alexander Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, reported ongoing attacks by Russian drones in the region despite the supposed peace truce. This confirms Moscow’s irresponsible attitude towards any agreements and indicates that the "silence" mode at the moment is merely a tactical strategy rather than a genuine intention to end hostilities. In summary, Ukrainian leaders and defenders consistently highlight that Moscow has clear evidence of its intentions and demonstrates its true nature through activity at the front and maintained tension. Ukraine will continue to act solely in its national interests, calling on the international community for objective assessment and preparing for any development scenario. As the Ukrainian president stated, the most important thing is to preserve unity and readiness for any challenges, so as not to allow the aggressor to break Ukrainian independence and security.