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EU, Italy and UK react to Putin's "Easter truce"

EU, Italy and UK react to Putin's "Easter truce"
Ukraine's allies have urged Russia to extend its Easter ceasefire and take more significant steps towards peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that he was ordering all his forces to lay down their arms for a 30-hour ceasefire covering the entire Easter Sunday, Sky News reports. 

A British Foreign Office spokesman said the UK wants Russia to commit to a complete ceasefire, adding that a pause would allow negotiations for a just and lasting peace.

"Now is the time for Putin to show that he is serious about peace by ending his terrible occupation," the Foreign Ministry said in its statement.

"First we need to see an actual cessation of aggression"

In Brussels, a European Union spokesman expressed caution about the announced ceasefire, saying: " Russia has a history of aggression, so first we need to see some actual cessation of aggression and clear actions for a sustainable ceasefire."

The Italian Foreign Ministry also urged Russia to take more significant steps towards peace.

"It is not clear how Russia will respect a short ceasefire, while Putin must decide to definitively stop this war that he started," said Antonio Tajani.

"He must respond positively to President Trump's demands and make a real ceasefire possible. The peace must be just and sustainable over time."

Ukraine has already accused the Kremlin of going back on its word and breaking the peace proposal, claiming there have been "dozens" of Russian attacks on Ukrainian positions. 

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