raids alerts" on Sunday during Vladimir Putin's "Easter truce" and President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested this could be the "easiest" format to extend for 30 days and possibly more. The US had tried to organise a 30-day ceasefire but that never took hold, and this latest chapter underscores the difficulty in achieving even a brief pause in fighting,

Russia insisted on a number of conditions, including a halt to Ukraine re-arming and recruiting new fighters as well as "underlying causes of the conflict".One major factor hampering the talks' progress is the long history of broken ceasefire deals, resulting in deep mistrust between the two neighbours.During his tempestuous meeting with Donald Trump in February, Zelensky accused Russia of violating 25 ceasefire agreements since 2014, and argued that no such deal would hold without security guarantees.In turn, Russia accuses the Ukrainian president of being "incapable" of implementing any such agreements.Independent experts say Russia bears the brunt of the blame for broken truces, even though Ukraine bears some responsibility, too.Statements by current and former Russian officials also indicate that Moscow would be prepared to cease hostilities, only if its original objectives are achieved - namely a demilitarised, neutral and non-nuclear Ukraine. (BBC)