Russia, Ukraine trade blame for blocking truce talks

Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Tuesday of standing in the way of negotiations on a moratorium on attacking civilian targets, as the warring sides jockey for the favour of a Trump administration that has threatened to abandon peace efforts.

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Both sides are under pressure to demonstrate progress towards ending the war in Ukraine, now well into its fourth year, after US President Donald Trump said he was losing patience and would walk away from efforts to make peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who rejected a Trump proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire last month after Ukraine had agreed to it in principle, announced a unilateral one-day truce for Easter over the weekend.

Kyiv largely dismissed that as a stunt and both sides accused the other of violating it.