It was unexpected, barely implemented and not even extended. But the Kremlin’s hopelessly short-lived Easter truce was aimed directly at US President Donald Trump and at shifting blame for his disastrous peacemaking efforts in the Ukraine war.

President Putin and the Russian side remain open to the search for a peaceful settlement and continue working with the American side. And of course, we hope this work will bear fruit,” Peskov said, commenting on Trump’s statement.