Vladimir Putin multiplies the announcements this Thursday.
With Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Russian President once again said he was “open to dialogue”, on the condition that kyiv recognize the new territorial realities”.
A few hours later, in a statement, he then ordered his forces to implement a ceasefire in Ukraine on January 6 and 7.
The reason: Orthodox Christmas, after a request to that effect from Patriarch Kirill.
Read alsoFollow the latest developments in the war in our direct
“In view of the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Russian Minister of Defense to introduce a ceasefire regime along the entire line of contact between the parties in Ukraine from 12:00 p.m. January of this year until midnight on January 7,” Vladimir Putin said in the Kremlin statement.
A "cynical trap"
The Russian president also called on the Ukrainian forces to respect this truce in order to give the possibility to the Orthodox, the majority faith in Ukraine as in Russia, "to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the day of the Nativity of Christ. ".
This ceasefire, the first of magnitude since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in February, comes after a request to this effect from the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill, a close supporter of Vladimir Putin.
This call from Patriarch Kirill was swept away by Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaïlo Podoliak, who lambasted on Twitter Thursday, before Vladimir Putin's announcement, a possible truce of "cynical trap" and "element of propaganda".
In another tweet, written in English, he developed his thoughts.
“Russia must leave the occupied territories, only then will there be a 'temporary truce'.
Keep your hypocrisy,” it read.
First.
Ukraine doesn't attack foreign territory & doesn't kill civilians.
As RF does.
Ukraine destroys only members of the occupation army on its territory...
Second.
RF must leave the occupied territories - only then will it have a "temporary truce".
Keep hypocrisy to yourself.
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) January 5, 2023
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during their meeting mentioned above, also urged Vladimir Putin to put in place a “unilateral ceasefire” in Ukraine.
