Ukraine Rejects Putin’s Call For A 36-Hour Ceasefire In Ukraine As ‘Hypocrisy’

BBC: Ukraine war: Kyiv rejects Putin's 'trivial' Christmas truce

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his defence minister to impose a 36-hour ceasefire on the Ukrainian frontline, beginning on Friday.

The ceasefire, scheduled to start at 12:00 Moscow time (09:00 GMT), will coincide with the Russian Orthodox Christmas.

Mr Putin asked Ukraine to reciprocate, but Kyiv quickly rejected the request. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said the truce was an attempt to stop his country's military advances.

The Kremlin statement appeared to stress that President Putin ordered his troops to stop fighting not because he was de-escalating - Putin never de-escalates - but because he had listened to an appeal from the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Patriarch Kirill had, earlier in the day, called for a Christmas truce to allow believers to attend church services for Orthodox Christmas.

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WNU Editor: Cannot say that I am surprised by this rejection from the Ukraine government. In a way this ceasefire call was a trap. The optics of rejecting a Christmas truce is never good.

Ukraine Rejects Putin’s Call For A 36-Hour Ceasefire In Ukraine As ‘Hypocrisy’

Live: Zelensky says Russia wants to use ceasefire as ‘cover’ to halt Ukrainian advance -- France 24

Ukraine rejects Putin’s 36-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas -- The Guardian

Ukraine rejects Christmas truce -- RT

Kyiv dismisses Putin’s call for 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine as ‘hypocrisy’ -- CNN

Ukraine rejects Vladimir Putin's call for Orthodox Christmas truce -- ABC News Austtralia