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The Liadski Gate in Kyiv with a statue of Archangel Michael
Photo: SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP
In view of the upcoming Orthodox Christmas, Russia's ruler Vladimir Putin has ordered a ceasefire in Ukraine.
According to a Kremlin statement, the head of the Kremlin has instructed the Russian Ministry of Defense to cease hostilities in the neighboring country from 12 noon on Friday (10 a.m. CET) to midnight on Saturday evening.
This decision was made on the basis of an appeal by the Moscow Patriarch Cyril.
It was initially unclear how Russian troops should behave if they are attacked by the Ukrainian army during the ceasefire.
The Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7 according to the Julian calendar.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who is closely associated with the Kremlin, had called for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
During the Orthodox Christmas, the guns should be silent, demanded Kyrill, who otherwise follows the Kremlin line, describing Russia's war of aggression as an "internal conflict" and Russia only as an "involved side".
At Easter, Moscow still rejected a ceasefire
For the important Orthodox Easter on April 17 last year, there was an open letter to Cyril calling for a ceasefire.
At the time, Moscow refused because it only gave Ukraine the option of acquiring new weapons and redeploying forces.
The leadership had already rejected Cyril's suggestion in sharp words.
"It's a cynical trap and an element of propaganda," Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Twitter.
He later described Putin's order as "hypocrisy."
And: "Russia must leave the occupied territories - only then will there be a 'temporary ceasefire'," it continues.
Unlike the Russian opponent, Ukraine would not attack foreign territory and kill civilians.
Only Russia does that.
Federal government "notes" announced ceasefire
The federal government in Berlin also reacted cautiously to the Russian announcement.
"We have taken note of the announcement," said a government spokesman for the dpa news agency in Berlin.
"Each cessation of hostilities helps to save human lives." However, it remains the case that Russia must completely withdraw its troops from Ukraine and can thus end this war at any time: "We continue to call on Russia to do so."
According to the available information, some of which cannot be independently verified, the Russian invasion seems to be faltering.
Russian forces suffered multiple defeats in the second half of 2022.
They lost more than half of the territory they had occupied since February.
In the past few weeks, however, the front lines have apparently changed only comparatively little.
Thousands of soldiers are said to have died in heavy fighting.
Russia regularly carries out airstrikes on Ukrainian infrastructure that have led to massive power outages.
sak/dpa/Reuters
