https://sputniknews.in/20250421/easter-truce-zelensky-has-zero-interest-in-peace-9006133.html
Easter Truce: Zelensky Has Zero Interest in Peace, Vets Say
Easter Truce: Zelensky Has Zero Interest in Peace, Vets Say
Sputnik India
Russia is in firm control of the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine and it alone would decide the terms of how and when the special military operation in Ukraine would conclude, Indian military veterans have told Sputnik India.
2025-04-21T19:05+0530
2025-04-21T19:05+0530
2025-04-22T10:26+0530
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Russia, despite being in firm control of the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine, signals a desire to manage or even de-escalate the conflict by suggesting Easter truce and the subsequent resumption of military operations, Indian military veterans have told Sputnik India.The comments come against the backdrop of the Russian Defence Ministry reporting that the military operations in Ukraine have resumed after President Vladimir Putin announced an Easter Truce from 6 PM on 19 April till 21 April (midnight). While Volodymyr Zelensky also accused Russia of ceasefire violations, he did confirm that there were no air raid alerts during the Easter weekend."President Vladimir Putin took the right step by initiating the ceasefire, and the onus was now on Zelensky who did not fully respect the ceasefire," retired Lieutenant Colonel JS Sodhi stated.He said that the "biggest message" out of it for the Donald Trump administration was that Russia remained in "firm grip" of the conflict.This war has lasted over three years due to distrust fueled by Ukraine under US influence, he further said. The "best course forward" for both countries would be to sit together and agree to a ceasefire on Russia's terms, the veteran stated.Lauding Putin's ceasefire initiative and condemning Zelensky for breaking it, he added that the temporary truce could have been extended if Ukraine had not violated the ceasefire terms."Russia controls the battlefield dynamics. It is certainly in a commanding position," retired Major General Shashi Bhushan Asthana, Director at New Delhi-based think tank United Services Institution (USI) of India, told Sputnik India.Commenting on Trump's growing frustration with Zelensky, evidenced in the feisty Oval Office clash in February, Asthana said that "peace can't be rhetorical".The veteran stated that, from Russia's perspective, a security guarantee was essential, along with addressing the fundamental causes that sparked the war. This included a guarantee from Ukraine that it would not seek NATO membership.Despite Zelensky's statement that he was seeking a ceasefire, Ukraine seemed to have made up its mind to "escalate further", Asthana asserted.While the Trump administration has paused the military supplies to Ukraine and resumed the process of normalising ties with Russia, nearly 30 NATO allies have come together to form the "Coalition of the Willing" to help Ukraine achieve peace on "equal terms", a possibility both Indian experts have already discarded.
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Easter Truce: Zelensky Has Zero Interest in Peace, Vets Say
19:05 21.04.2025 (Updated: 10:26 22.04.2025) The Russian Defence Ministry said that it recorded 4,900 ceasefire violations by Ukrainian forces during the Eastern Truce, adding that all Russian units strictly adhered to the ceasefire within the special military operation zone.
Russia, despite being in firm control of the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine, signals a desire to manage or even de-escalate the conflict by suggesting Easter truce and the subsequent resumption of military operations, Indian military veterans have told Sputnik India.
The comments come against the backdrop of the Russian Defence Ministry reporting that the military operations in Ukraine have resumed after President Vladimir Putin
announced an Easter Truce from 6 PM on 19 April till 21 April (midnight). While Volodymyr Zelensky also accused Russia of ceasefire violations, he did confirm that there were no air raid alerts during the Easter weekend.
"President Vladimir Putin took the right step by initiating the ceasefire, and the onus was now on Zelensky who did not fully respect the ceasefire," retired Lieutenant Colonel JS Sodhi stated.
He said that the "biggest message" out of it for the Donald Trump administration was that Russia remained in "firm grip" of the conflict.
"There is no other country in the world which can exert any pressure on Russia," assessed Sodhi.
This war has lasted over three years due to distrust fueled by Ukraine under US influence, he further said. The "best course forward" for both countries would be to sit together and agree to a ceasefire on Russia's terms, the veteran stated.
"Otherwise, given the great economic and military part of Russia, it can fight this war another seven years," Sodhi remarked.
Lauding Putin's ceasefire initiative and condemning Zelensky for breaking it, he added that the temporary truce could have been extended if Ukraine had not violated the ceasefire terms.
"Russia controls the battlefield dynamics. It is certainly in a commanding position," retired Major General Shashi Bhushan Asthana, Director at New Delhi-based think tank United Services Institution (USI) of India, told Sputnik India.
Commenting on Trump's growing frustration with Zelensky, evidenced in the feisty Oval Office clash in February, Asthana said that "peace can't be rhetorical".
"President Donald Trump, who said before the election that he would get the war to stop within 24 hours, would perhaps realise that peace can't be rhetorical. It has to address the root causes of the war, as stated by President Putin," the Indian veteran said.
The veteran stated that, from Russia's perspective, a security guarantee was essential, along with addressing the fundamental causes that sparked the war. This included a guarantee from Ukraine that it would not seek NATO membership.
Despite Zelensky's statement that he was seeking a ceasefire, Ukraine seemed to have made up its mind to "escalate further", Asthana asserted.
"To my mind, there is no doubt that Zelenksy wants to escalate further because if there is a ceasefire, he would all but be gone out of power. It is absolutely clear that he is not interested in peace, much like the Europeans. There seems to be a sense among Europeans that the US won't continue to support them as it has over the decades if fighting in Ukraine comes to a stop," he said.
While the Trump administration has paused the military supplies to Ukraine and resumed the process of normalising ties with Russia, nearly
30 NATO allies have come together to form the "Coalition of the Willing" to help Ukraine achieve peace on "equal terms", a possibility both Indian experts have already discarded.
"The Europeans want Ukraine to keep fighting this war as it is Ukraine which is bearing the brunt of the conflict. The Europeans are not seeing their men dying on the battlefield. So, if Europe continues to support Ukraine in this war, Russia won't have a reason to implement a lasting ceasefire," Asthana concluded.
