Mike Baker

but the Kremlin is already signaling limits.

Officials in Moscow described the Easter truce as a temporary measure, while reiterating that Russia is focused on securing a permanent peace deal, one that includes longstanding demands for Ukraine to cede the entire Donbass region, including territory currently held by Kiev.

Zelensky has repeatedly rejected those terms, describing them as a delaying tactic on the part of the Kremlin and saying any such concession would betray Ukrainian forces and reward Russian aggression.

And on the ground, there are few signs that this latest ceasefire is changing any expectations on either side of the war.

Residents in both Kyiv and Moscow expressed doubts in interviews with Reuters, pointing to a long history of failed or violated truces, including a similar Easter ceasefire last year that quickly broke down.

But at the same time, there are signals, however tentative, that negotiations could be inching forward behind the scenes.

Kirill Budnov, the head of Ukraine's presidential office and a key participant in peace talks, told Bloomberg on Friday that he believes a deal could come sooner than many expect.

He said, quote, "...they all understand the war needs to end.

I don't think it will be long."

End quote.

Butunov argued that both sides are moving away from earlier maximalist positions, driven in part by the growing economic strain of the war, particularly in Russia, which he said is spending enormous sums to sustain its campaign.

Still, that optimism is far from universally shared.

According to the same Bloomberg reporting, talks have largely stalled, with both sides outlining positions that remain unacceptable to the other, even as they express interest in resuming direct negotiations once conditions allow.

So, for now, this Easter ceasefire appears to represent something familiar in this war, a brief pause, layered with competing narratives and very deep skepticism.

And, well, the war grinds on.

And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon Bulletin for Friday, the 10th of April.

Now, if you have any questions or comments, and I hope you do, just reach out to me at pdp at thefirsttv.com.

And as mentioned earlier, be sure to catch this weekend's PDB Situation Report.

It airs tonight at 10 p.m.

on The First TV and also available on our YouTube channel at President's Daily Brief and wherever you get your podcast stuff.