Russian dictator accuses Ukraine of violating ceasefire before official agreement – ISW

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is creating confusion about the ceasefire, accusing Ukraine of violations before the formal entry into force of the agreement. However, the details have not yet been agreed.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this.

"The Kremlin readout of the March 18 phone call between Putin and Trump stated that Putin "immediately gave the Russian military" an order that "corresponded" with his "positive response" to Trump's temporary ceasefire proposal," ISW analysts note.

The Institute for the Study of War recalled that the Russians reported that after Trump spoke with Putin, the Russian leader allegedly ordered the troops to stop attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

The Kremlin said that it had destroyed its drones that were in the air and that Ukraine allegedly attacked Russian territory with UAVs that same evening.

ISW analysts write that Russia's claims that it is adhering to the ceasefire by refraining from striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure and that Ukraine has violated the agreement are inaccurate, as both countries have yet to implement the agreement formally.

These Kremlin statements attempt to exploit the lack of clarity on the details of the ceasefire for manipulation, accusing Ukraine of violations before the agreement has even entered into force, indicating the potential use of similar tactics in the future.

The ISW report says the Kremlin denies Trump's claims about his phone call with Putin on March 18.

The Russian report says that Putin called for the cessation of all foreign military aid to Ukraine, while Trump claimed that the issue was not raised at all.

Key conclusions of the ISW:

• Russia and Ukraine have not formally announced the implementation of the temporary long-range strikes ceasefire.
• Official American, Ukrainian, and Russian statements indicate that the parties to the ceasefire have not yet finalized the agreement's details.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin is adding confusion about the timing and details of the ceasefire in an attempt to falsely blame Ukraine for violating the truce before both countries have officially implemented the agreement.
• The Kremlin continues contradicting Trump's report of his call with Putin on March 18.
• The Kremlin continues to demand that Ukraine cede Ukrainian territory that Russia does not currently occupy and to set conditions to make further territorial demands.
• The United States, Ukraine, and Europe continue to agree that Ukraine and Europe must be involved in peace negotiations to end the war, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to exclude Ukraine and Europe from such talks.
• Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner of war (POW) exchange on March 19.
• Major General Apti Alaudinov, the Russian Ministry of Defense's (MoD) Main Military-Political Directorate Deputy Head and Akhmat Spetsnaz Commander described recent Russian deception tactics that may amount to acts of perfidy—a war crime under the Geneva Convention.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Belgorod region and near Pokrovsk, and Russian troops recently advanced near Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Velyka Novosilka.
• Russian military bloggers argued that the Russian government should give military awards and social benefits to military instructors and Russian defense industrial base (DIB) employees.