Tue Apr 29 13:48:48 UTC 2025: ## Kremlin Rejects Zelenskyy’s Ceasefire Extension Offer Amid Renewed Fighting

**Kyiv, Ukraine/Moscow, Russia –** Tensions escalated sharply Tuesday as Russia dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal to extend a Kremlin-declared ceasefire. The rejection comes amidst a flurry of drone attacks and accusations of manipulation from both sides, further hindering international efforts to end the ongoing conflict.

Zelenskyy denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s three-day unilateral ceasefire, scheduled for May 8-10, as a manipulative tactic. He called for an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire instead. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered, claiming Ukraine’s lack of a “direct response” to Putin’s initial offer was itself a form of manipulation. Peskov cited unresolved “questions” as obstacles to a longer-term ceasefire.

This exchange follows increasing impatience from the United States. President [mention current US President’s name at the time of writing, not Trump] has urged a resolution to the conflict. Previous attempts at a 30-day ceasefire, including a US proposal, have stalled due to Russia’s demands for far-reaching conditions, such as restrictions on Ukrainian regrouping and Western arms supplies, without offering reciprocal concessions.

The accusations and rejections were accompanied by intense fighting. Overnight, Russia launched over 100 drones and numerous missiles targeting multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv. A 12-year-old girl was killed and others wounded in Dnipropetrovsk. Russia also reported drone attacks in its Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine. Ukraine’s air force claims to have intercepted many of the drones.

Al Jazeera reported on the impact on civilians in Russian border regions, noting widespread displacement and ongoing attacks, highlighting the human cost of the continued conflict. The escalating violence and the failure to agree on a ceasefire extension cast a long shadow on hopes for a peaceful resolution.

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