Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, issued an order for a ceasefire in Ukraine on Thursday.
The Kremlin’s official website announced this report.
Since beginning its operation in February of last year, Russia has never before fully implemented a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Why Putin Orders Cease Fire in Ukraine?
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, announced a 36-hour cease-fire order for Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas on Thursday.
The statement comes after 76-year-old Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, requested a cease-fire throughout the holy day.
According to the Kremlin, Putin instructed that the 36-hour ceasefire will start at 12:00 on January 6. On January 6–7, many Orthodox Christians—including those who reside in Russia and Ukraine—celebrate Christmas.
Both parties to the conflict in Ukraine were urged to observe a Christmas ceasefire agreement early on Thursday by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
Despite the fact that Ukraine had already rejected Kirill’s appeal, there was no immediate response to Putin’s declaration of a cease-fire.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a top advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski, accused the Russian Orthodox Church of being a “war propagandist” who had encouraged the “mass murder” of Ukrainians and Russia’s militarization.
