Kiev initially rejected the Russian initiative on the Easter ceasefire, but then the Ukrainian authorities were “prompted” to agree to it, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin, TASS reports.

“We saw the initial reaction [by the Ukrainian authorities]; I believe everyone noticed it: a statement was publicized according to which our proposal was viewed as a game, etc. with fate, people's lives. But, apparently, the smarter ones—most likely foreign curators—suggested that rejecting such initiatives is a losing position for the Kiev regime, and they quickly agreed,” said the Russian president.