The President of Russia, Vladimir Putinordered a today 36 hour ceasefire starting at 12:00 Moscow time (09:00 GMT) tomorrow Friday along the entire front line in Ukraine, the Kremlin reported.
According to the note from the Russian Presidency, the decision of the head of state is in response to the appeal of the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kiril, to establish a Christmas truce, which Orthodox believers celebrate on January 7.
“I order the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation to introduce a regime of Stop the fire along the contact line with Ukraine from 12:00 on January 6 to 00:00 on January 7,” Putin said.
Furthermore, it adds: “Assuming that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the hostile areas, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire that allows them to attend ceremonies at Christmas”.
Hours before, Kiril had called a truce so that the faithful could celebrate Christmas. “I, Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, call on all parties involved in this internal conflict to ceasefire and establish a Christmas truce“, he pointed out in his appeal.
Ukraine’s response
In response to these words, Volodimir Zelensky’s adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, questioned that Kiril “is not an authority for global orthodoxy”, denouncing that he acts as a “war propagandist”. “The statement on the ‘Christmas truce’ is a cynical trap and an element of propaganda,” he laments.
Later, he expressed that they will only accept a “temporary truce” if Russia leaves the occupied territoriesclarifying that Ukraine is not attacking a foreign country, but defending its territory, calling the Russian announcement “hypocritical”.
Source: Lasexta
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