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France Says Putin’s “Easter Ceasefire” Was Just a Show for President Trump
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has described Russia’s so-called “Easter ceasefire” as a public relations move intended to influence US President Donald Trump, rather than a genuine effort to reduce hostilities.
His remarks came during an interview with FranceInfo on April 22.
“The Easter ceasefire was a marketing operation, a tactical gesture designed to calm President Trump,” Barrot said. He further called it “a charm offensive aimed at preventing President Trump from becoming impatient and angry.”
While Barrot noted “very numerous violations” of the truce, he acknowledged a temporary decrease in the use of drones and long-range missiles during the Easter weekend. His comments followed a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Ukraine had earlier accepted a US-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal covering maritime, aerial, and energy infrastructure. France emphasized that the plan was based on a prior Franco-British initiative and highlighted Ukraine’s willingness to compromise.
He further noted that while Ukraine accepted a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire—covering maritime, aerial, and energy infrastructure—Russia rejected the offer, instead issuing a list of conditions that delayed implementation.
Barrot emphasized that meaningful steps toward peace must come from Moscow and that the current momentum for negotiations should now be addressed directly to Putin.
Commenting on the broader diplomatic context, Barrot said discussions between Ukraine and Russia are ongoing and expected to continue in London. He acknowledged Ukraine’s willingness to compromise, calling it an essential component for progress toward a negotiated ceasefire.
The Kremlin had officially declared a ceasefire from 18:00 on April 19 until midnight on April 21.
However, Ukrainian officials accused Russian forces of violating the terms almost immediately, continuing attacks despite Putin’s public directive. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported increased Russian military activity during the ceasefire period.
