Expert: Easter brings no truce – Russia-Ukraine conflict remains unresolved
The alignment of Catholic and Orthodox Easter dates is a rare occurrence, yet for those in the conflict zone, Easter hasn’t brought peace once again, media expert Dmitry Shvaiba noted in his talk with Alfa Radio
“This occurs because the two confessions calculate the lunar cycles using different calendars. Since things have turned out this way it became a great reason for significant statements,” expert explained.
Ceasefire is a sign of hope, but not a defining moment
Dmitry Shvaiba noted that Russia's declared Easter ceasefire became another hope for progress toward conflict resolution. “Unfortunately, we cannot yet consider this event a starting point for progress toward peace. There are still many challenges. First, there’s the depth of the conflict, the level of confrontation and the provocative actions of Ukraine’s authorities. Moreover, open-source reports indicate that not all units within so-called ‘Ukraine’s unified army’ follow orders from Kiev. The ceasefire officially ended on April 21th, at 00:00, though many had hoped for an extension. Huge number of violations is reported — by the middle of April 20th the number had already exceeded a thousand. Those were not some spontaneous frontline incidents, but deliberate actions ordered by Ukraine’s military-political authorities. Unfortunately, Easter hasn’t brought peace once again. This is tragic, but the road to peace isn’t going to be easy.”
Political will exists: but not on both sides
“Upon that, Russia has demonstrated the political will for a conflict resolution," the speaker emphasised. "It’s measured, consistent and self-sufficient. But opposing forces perceive the situation fundamentally differently. The core obstacle lies in Kiev’s political structure — where ending the conflict would trigger presidential elections, inevitably leading to change of power. That is precisely why Ukraine’s current elites have no interest in peace — it would end their political survival."
Belarusian alarm: conflict on the doorstep
According to the guest of Alfa Radio, this situation deeply concerns Belarus. “Firstly, because Ukrainians are our brotherly nation, now facing immense hardship. On the one hand they are mentally close to us, on the other — suffered from social engineering, which is felt even at the level of mentality. Besides, this crisis is literally on our doorstep. This concerns the Belarus people directly – it’s our pain too," Dmitry Shvaiba noted.
History that cannot be cancelled
“Minsk must remember the significant role Ukrainian people played in defeating fascism — especially with the 80th anniversary of Great Victory approaching. Ukrainian fronts, military leaders and ordinary soldiers — those people made great contribution to the Victory. There were incomparably more people of this kind, than those who held opposing views. This is clear. Yet today, historical perception in Ukrainian society has been altered. History cannot be cancelled — it can be forgotten, rewritten, streets and subway stations can be renamed, but the history remains. This trend poses serious challenges for Ukraine’s entire political system. Yet simultaneously, it is a hope. An internal rejection — a ‘digestive refusal’ of the current political construction against the background of shared historical values — will happen anyway," media expert added.
