The 30-hour truce would be the most significant pause in the fighting throughout the three-year conflict.
“Across various frontline directions, there have already been 59 cases of Russian shelling and five assaults by Russian units,“ Zelensky said on social media, citing a report as of 6:00 am (0300 GMT) from Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky.
“Overall, as of Easter morning, we can state that the Russian army is attempting to create the general impression of a ceasefire, while in some areas still continuing isolated attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine,“ Zelensky's post said.
On Friday, Washington even threatened to withdraw from talks if no progress was made.
“Today from 1800 (1500 GMT Saturday) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce,“ Putin said in televised comments during a meeting with the Russian chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov.
“Russia must fully comply with the conditions of the ceasefire. Ukraine’s proposal to implement and extend the ceasefire for 30 days after midnight tonight remains on the table,“ Zelensky's post said Sunday.
Putin had said the truce for the Easter holiday celebrated on Sunday was motivated by “humanitarian reasons”.
Putin said the latest truce proposal would show “how sincere is the Kyiv’s regime’s readiness, its desire and ability to observe agreements and participate in a process of peace talks”.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022.
“For millions of Ukrainians, Easter is one of the most important holidays. And millions of Ukrainians will go to church,“ said Zelensky in his Saturday evening address.
Soldiers in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk close to the front line earlier greeted the truce announcement with scepticism.
Soldier Vladislav, 22, added: “I feel like it’s going to start again after a while, and it’s going to go on and on.”
“There is no need to give them respite. If we press, it means we should press to the end,“ he told AFP.
Zelensky said the total number of returned POWs now stood at 4,552.
The UAE said it was committed to “finding a peaceful solution” to the conflict and “mitigating the humanitarian impacts”.
Kyiv had hoped to use its hold on the region as a bargaining chip in the talks.
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