Putin Orders '36-Hour Ceasefire'... Ukraine Calls It "Hypocrisy, Deception"

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a ceasefire for Russian troops engaged in the Ukraine war from noon (local time) on the 6th to the 7th, lasting 36 hours, in celebration of the Orthodox Christmas. The Ukrainian side dismissed it as "hypocrisy" and "deception."

According to the New York Times (NYT) and others on the 5th, the Kremlin issued a statement saying, "President Putin, considering the appeal of Patriarch Kirill, instructed the Minister of Defense to implement a ceasefire regime for Russian troops in Ukraine."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

This followed Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, urging a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine from 12 noon on the 6th to midnight on the 7th to celebrate Christmas. The Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7. The Kremlin said, "Many believers of the Orthodox Church live in the combat zones (Ukraine)," adding, "We hope they can attend Christmas services." The Russian Ministry of Defense also confirmed it received the ceasefire order.

The NYT reported, "This is the most comprehensive and unilateral ceasefire order since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

However, there are analyses that President Putin's ceasefire order is a kind of tactic. The NYT reported that if Ukraine agrees to the ceasefire, the Russian army would gain an opportunity to regroup its damaged forces. Conversely, if Ukraine ignores the ceasefire, Putin could use it as a pretext to blame Ukraine and justify the war to the Russian public.

The Ukrainian side is also opposing it. Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the Ukrainian president, criticized on Twitter after the Kremlin's announcement, saying, "Stop the hypocritical acts," and "Russia must leave the occupied territories of Ukraine. Only then can there be a 'temporary ceasefire.'" He dismissed the ceasefire order as a propaganda gesture and a stale deception, stating, "(Russia) has no intention of ending the war."

Criticism has also been raised that Russian forces continue to attack civilians, staining Christmas with blood. Previously, on December 25 last year, the Protestant and Catholic Christmas, at least 10 people were killed by Russian shelling in the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Kyrylo Tymoshenko of the Ukrainian presidential office also mentioned on Telegram that "They (Russia) talk about a Christmas ceasefire in the morning and kill entire families by lunchtime."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.