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The United Kingdom has officially called on Russia to commit to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, rather than short-term symbolic pauses. This is stated in a statement by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which was released on Saturday, Reuters reports.
The statement came in response to a unilateral initiative by the Kremlin: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a so-called 30-hour “Easter truce” to last from the evening of 19 April to midnight on 21 April. However, Ukraine’s Western allies consider this step insufficient and insincere, especially against the backdrop of active hostilities, which Russia did not stop even after the announcement.
“Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We call on Russia to do the same,” said a British Foreign Office spokesman.
The ministry stressed that the one-day pause is not an alternative to genuine peace talks, but only a tool for manipulation. British diplomats emphasised:
“Now is the moment for Putin to prove he is serious about peace – and there is only one way to do that: by ending his horrific invasion.”
Earlier this week, Washington said that it might withdraw from the peace process if Moscow and Kyiv do not demonstrate a real will to end the war. Against this backdrop, Putin’s “truce” looks like an attempt to maintain diplomatic appearances without changing the course of the military campaign.
For its part, Ukraine agreed to the US initiative for a full 30-day ceasefire on 11 March, as stated by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga. Instead, Russia has repeatedly ignored this proposal, intensifying its attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.
