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.

The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas Day on 7 January, according to the Julian calendar.
A Kremlin statement said: "Taking into consideration the appeal by [Kirill], the president hereby instructs the minister of defence of the Russian Federation to impose a ceasefire regime along the entire line of contact in Ukraine" for the 36-hour period.
Mr Putin's order called on Ukraine to reciprocate so that the "large numbers of Orthodox believers [who] reside in areas where hostilities are taking place" could celebrate Christmas Eve on Friday and Christmas Day on Saturday.

But in his nightly video address, President Zelensky said that Russia wanted to use the truce as a cover to stop Ukrainian advances in the eastern Donbas region and bring in more men and equipment
"What will that give them? Only yet another increase in their total losses," he added. Unusually he delivered this part of the address in Russian instead of Ukrainian

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmitro Kuleba, said Moscow repeatedly ignored President Zelensky's propositions for peace. He pointed to Russia's shelling of Kherson on 24 December and strikes on New Year's Eve as evidence of Moscow's inability to cease
hostilities during religious holidays.
US President Joe Biden believes Mr Putin was simply "trying to find some oxygen"

The Kremlin's ceasefire fits in nicely with a common narrative in Moscow, one that is aimed primarily at the domestic audience. That is - that the Russians are the good guys, and it is Ukraine and the West that are threatening Russia.
The truce is also a handy tool that can be used to demonise Ukraine - as the Ukrainians have dismissed the proposal, Moscow will claim that Kyiv does not respect religious believers and has no desire for peace.
Ukrainian presidential adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said there could be no "temporary truce" until Russian forces withdrew from all the areas they had occupied. He also called it a "propaganda gesture", a "trivial ploy", and an attempt by Russia to invite pressure on Ukraine from European countries by pretending it was "humanistic


The move also comes just a few days after a large number of Russian troops were killed in a Ukrainian strike on a temporary barracks in the occupied Ukrainian city of Makiivka.
The Russian Defence Ministry put the death toll at 89, making it the highest single loss of life admitted by Moscow since the war began.
Relatives of the dead, as well as some politicians and commentators, expressed anger over what happened in Makiivka and blamed incompetent military officials. The incident happened on New Year's Eve - the most important holiday in the Russian calendar.

Political analyst Tatyana Stanovaya says that it is possible the Kremlin wants to ensure no more major loss of life occurs on another important Russian holiday.
"Putin really does not want a repetition of that on Orthodox Christmas Day," she wrote.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Mr Putin to declare a "unilateral" ceasefire in Ukraine so that both sides could negotiate


The Russian Orthodox Church is by far the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches, but there are others.
Some people in Ukraine celebrate Christmas on 25 December, others on 7 January. Both days are public holidays in the country.
This year, for the first time, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine said it would allow its congregations to celebrate Christmas on 25 December, as do some other denominations in western Ukraine.
The church split with the similarly named Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in 2018.
The UOC itself was tied to Moscow's religious leadership until Russia's invasion, and some of its top clergy have been accused of still covertly supporting Moscow.
A few hours after Russia's ceasefire announcement, Germany said it would follow the US in providing a Patriot air defence missile system to Ukraine. Germany also announced, in a joint statement with the US, that both countries would send armoured vehicles
France said on Wednesday that it would send armoured fighting vehicles
Kyiv has repeatedly called for more aid from its international allies in the face of continuing Russian aggression.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-64178912

Russia seems to be running out of ideas, if it was zenlesky asking for cease fire, puturds will call him weak,
Putin is now begging for cease fire, am glad that Ukraine has rejected it..

What I know is that everything is fair in a war. Both parties are very right in their decisions.
Btw, who will ever think that Ukraine can withstand Russia military might up to this moment?

By the time the war ends, Eastern and Central European countries will have learnt a lesson about the consequences of swaying to Western manipulation; that is if they will. This is why many Asian countries are strongly Anti American when it comes to their ideological stands.

obedience4:
Russia seems to be running out of ideas, if it was zenlesky asking for cease fire, puturds will call him weak,
Putin is now begging for cease fire, am glad that Ukraine has rejected it..

Lol no Russia are not running out of ideas..

They are not fighting Ukraine the way the west predicted doesn't make then weak..

They have been dropping missiles on Ukraine soil for over many weeks to a months now but they have never targeted civilians or even the bunker where the clown president hides but important infrastructure..

The war is gonna be long like Russia predicted..

They are in no rush from the look of things..

Onyiiobi7735:
By the time the war ends, Eastern and Central European countries will have learnt a lesson about the consequences of swaying to Western manipulation; that is if they will. This is why many Asian countries are strongly Anti American when it comes to their ideological stands.

Apart from China and yeye north Korea, tell us the core Asian countries that are strongly anti American?
Unless you wanna had those terrorist middle eastern countries

Bijust:

Lol no Russia are not running out of ideas..

They are not fighting Ukraine the way the west predicted doesn't make then weak..

They have been dropping missiles on Ukraine soil for over many weeks to a months now but they have never targeted civilians or even the bunker where the clown president hides but important infrastructure..

The war is gonna be long like Russia predicted..

They are in no rush from the look of things..

Lol, funny boy,since day one Russia has been dropping missiles on Ukraine, for over 9 months Russia have been shelling Ukraine.
They never target civilians according to you abi? The civilian that have died I guess the sound of Russia missiles killed them? the same Russia targeting electrical facilities around Ukraine, I guess they love the Ukrainian citizens, be deceiving yourself, you will soon wake up to reality.
If you believe the Russian military knows were zelesnsky stays and refused to take him out,then you have a reasoning capacity of a 2 year old.

obedience4:


Apart from China and yeye north Korea, tell us the core Asian countries that are strongly anti American?
Unless you wanna had those terrorist middle eastern countries

Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia,East Timor,Bhutan,Nepal, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia.

Onyiiobi7735:

Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia,East Timor,Bhutan,Nepal, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia.

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, all these are mostly old Soviet Union countries,
All these are not major players in Asia we are talking about giants in Asia you are bring countries that were break formed from bigger nations.
When you talk about core Asia countries major players
China, Japan, south Korea, Twain, Singapore, all these are the Asia tigers not these crap you just mentioned.
I even see Myanmar a country that as of today don't even have a functional government
Please remove Indonesia, Indonesia the 2nd largest democracy in the world, please check the trade volume between Indonesia and the West.
Also Vietnam is pro west, to counter China aggression in the south China sea

Bijust:

Lol no Russia are not running out of ideas..

They are not fighting Ukraine the way the west predicted doesn't make then weak..

They have been dropping missiles on Ukraine soil for over many weeks to a months now but they have never targeted civilians or even the bunker where the clown president hides but important infrastructure..

The war is gonna be long like Russia predicted..

They are in no rush from the look of things..

True

Onyiiobi7735:

Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia,East Timor,Bhutan,Nepal, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia.

Georgia, Indonesia that had military drill with US force last year, Azerbaijan?? And Bhutan one of the most isolated and neutral countries on earth.

Your list is just full crap.
Even a child can debunk it in minutes.

Bijust:

Lol no Russia are not running out of ideas..

They are not fighting Ukraine the way the west predicted doesn't make then weak..

They have been dropping missiles on Ukraine soil for over many weeks to a months now but they have never targeted civilians or even the bunker where the clown president hides but important infrastructure..

The war is gonna be long like Russia predicted..

They are in no rush from the look of things..

Why do you lie without remorse?

Russia has beenn DELIBERATELY targeting civilians for months now.

e say na 'important infrastructure'. Hitting power plants and homes during winter to put the population under hardship is what again?

Onyiiobi7735:
By the time the war ends, Eastern and Central European countries will have learnt a lesson about the consequences of swaying to Western manipulation; that is if they will. This is why many Asian countries are strongly Anti American when it comes to their ideological stands.

Is that why Kazakhstan is fiercely condemning the Russian invasion and vowing never to recognize the fake Russian referendum?
Or why they're looking to supply Gas to the West?

By the time the war ends, Russia will think twice about attacking another neighbor.

Onyiiobi7735:
By the time the war ends, Eastern and Central European countries will have learnt a lesson about the consequences of swaying to Western manipulation; that is if they will. This is why many Asian countries are strongly Anti American when it comes to their ideological stands.

You should have simply kept quiet. Western manipulation fire.
Putin started firing missiles into Ukraine instead of firing it to America. If the West was the cause Putin suppose challenge the cause .
This is a new year. If sense still dey very expensive because of Christmas price, keep quiet for now until the price come down to your level. Buy one and then use.

Karnice600:


You should have simply kept quiet. Western manipulation fire.
Putin started firing missiles into Ukraine instead of firing it to America. If the West was the cause Putin suppose challenge the cause .
This is a new year. If sense still dey very expensive because of Christmas price, keep quiet for now until the price come down to your level. Buy one and then use.

Lol! Oga, please go and take drugs for your mental disorder regularly or if exhausted get another dosage.
You are not following the drug dosage, which explains your outburst of madness.
And please do exactly what you suggested for me.
Compound complex sentimental fool.

castro2468:

Georgia, Indonesia that had military drill with US force last year, Azerbaijan?? And Bhutan one of the most isolated and neutral countries on earth.

Your list is just full crap.
Even a child can debunk it in minutes.

Lol! Is that why you are wailing pathetically? Please let me get my loudspeaker for you to wail louder.

Bijust:

Lol no Russia are not running out of ideas..

They are not fighting Ukraine the way the west predicted doesn't make then weak..

They have been dropping missiles on Ukraine soil for over many weeks to a months now but they have never targeted civilians or even the bunker where the clown president hides but important infrastructure..

The war is gonna be long like Russia predicted..

They are in no rush from the look of things..

like Japan and South Korea who are doin well with the west as allies or Taiwan?

Onyiiobi7735:

Lol! Is that why you are wailing pathetically? Please let me get my loudspeaker for you to wail louder.

Na only loudspeaker bring megaphone come too, useless Putin fanboy

castro2468:

Na only loudspeaker bring megaphone come too, useless Putin fanboy

Useless, stupid waste pipe,of course I will. Semi animal.

Onyiiobi7735:

Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia,East Timor,Bhutan,Nepal, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia.

You forgot to add India

Onyiiobi7735:

Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia,East Timor,Bhutan,Nepal, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia.

You forgot to add India too.

texazzpete:


Why do you lie without remorse?

Russia has beenn DELIBERATELY targeting civilians for months now.

e say na 'important infrastructure'. Hitting power plants and homes during winter to put the population under hardship is what again?

Will reply just you to sum up my points..
They target powerplants and the water infrastructure because that can make the civilians dessert the country which well can be said to be a success to an extent..


If they want to kill civilians there is no need targeting those infrastructure..

I lied according to you but you're the one putting on some fake point..
Russina has never targeted any civilian home, talk about casualties which well is unavoidable..

I have never seen Us fight a war they care this much about civilians if we are being honest..


If Russian wants to destroy Ukraine they can, considering that Ukraine defense systems can't stop them at the moment.

They are prolonging the war, so the west gets tired of thier support, handicap Ukraine from expert analysis..


It's not yet a war for Russians, as they still maintain its a special military operations...

Regex:

You forgot to add India too.

True bro.I forgot to add the country.

Bijust:



Will reply just you to sum up my points..
They target powerplants and the water infrastructure because that can make the civilians dessert the country which well can be said to be a success to an extent..


If they want to kill civilians there is no need targeting those infrastructure..

I lied according to you but you're the one putting on some fake point..
Russina has never targeted any civilian home, talk about casualties which well is unavoidable..

I have never seen Us fight a war they care this much about civilians if we are being honest..


If Russian wants to destroy Ukraine they can, considering that Ukraine defense systems can't stop them at the moment.

They are prolonging the war, so the west gets tired of thier support, handicap Ukraine from expert analysis..


It's not yet a war for Russians, as they still maintain its a special military operations...

Where This Authentic Mugu Come From?

This war has not begin yet

One thing is for sure "after this war no matter how long it takes Ukraine will never be the same again"