Charles Mainz

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the ceasefire from 4 p.m.

Saturday through end of Easter Sunday, a proposal to which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed.

Yet the Russian side accused Ukraine of launching overnight drone attacks on several border regions, injuring civilians.

And Ukraine blamed Russia for waves of drones and shelling that killed several people and injured scores more.

Moscow was also quick to dismiss calls by Zelensky to extend the truce and restart peace negotiations.

Speaking Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would resume its military campaign as soon as the ceasefire expired at midnight, arguing a lasting peace would only come once Russia's interests in Ukraine were met.

Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

Speaking to reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had always stressed the need for diplomacy over conflict.

The 11th hour ceasefire effectively hits pause on U.S.

and Israeli attacks in exchange for Iran's promise to allow safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Russia had been one of the few countries benefiting from the blockade, which spiked demand for, and the price of, Russian oil and gas at a moment when the economy was struggling under Western sanctions.

Yet Peskov said Moscow was satisfied with the short-term ceasefire deal and expressed hope the White House would soon resume its diplomatic efforts in Ukraine.

where Russia is urging the U.S.

to force concessions on Kyiv.

Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

Russia's Ministry of Transportation said the oil tanker Anatoly Kalotkin arrived in port early Monday, where it was set to unload nearly three-quarters of a million barrels of crude oil.

The move amounted to at least a pause in a U.S.

fuel embargo against Cuba, buying the island a few more weeks before its fuel reserves run dry.

Over the weekend, President Trump indicated the U.S.

would not block the Russian ship's passage, saying one tanker could help the Cuban people survive but would do little to ease U.S.