Putin orders cease fire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas • FRANCE 24 English

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered a 36-hour cease fire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas after an appeal from the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, a step Ukraine had earlier dismissed as a cynical trap. Putin ordered the 36-hour ceasefire would begin at 1200 on Jan. 6, the Kremlin said. Many Orthodox Christians, including those living in Russia and Ukraine, celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6-7.
#Ukraine #Russia #ceasefire

[thaymoua]

Give them no break. They did not give Ukraine any on their Christmas!

[nathanmerritt]

How generous of him. And yeah the moon is made out of cheese!

[shem]

Ukraine should reject it as russia try to use this an opportunity to fortify their position.

[martinbaylis]

Laughable, he expects Ukraine to honour a ceasefire just because he wants one, yeh right.

[normanjones]

Sorry Putin, The Ukrainian army is on automatic at the moment, dates and times don't matter, and there is no pause button. The only way to get out of this situation, is to withdraw your armies back into Russia, and press the army delete button. Maby you can start a new program based on peace? Tough I doubt it.

[darayeth]

They still believe in Christmas after what they have done in Ukraine?

[Inoffensive_name]

Sounds like Ukraine needs to plan a Christmas Offensive

[jeanwong]

Sorry Putin, HIMARS doesn’t observe holidays or cease fire.

[Pfromm]

I'm sure Russians will be delivered plenty of gifts via rocket powered air delivery

[forestrf]

"No cease of fire for your festivities, but yes for mine." Okok

[martyotherhopkins]

Remember 2014 they gave a cease fire and a safe corridor
But it was a trap

[anaortiz]

Putin take your troops out of Ukraine and then you get your 36 hours.

[harryseldom]

We believe you vlad, of course, of course...

[benoitbvg]

They just want enough time to change all their SIM cards.

[hahtos]

Nice, Ukrainians will thank and march through Russki lines.

[d.b.]

This is what it seems like to me: in Putin's mind, if Zelensky calls for a ceasefire (as he did) and he agrees, it creates the perception of him making concessions to Zelensky. That would undermine his strongman image, so, no ceasefire. But if Putin calls for a ceasefire and Zelensky agrees, then it's Zelensky making concessions to him.

This isn't about Christmas. It's about optics.

[larsrons]

Russian lesson: "Cease-fire" = "re-load weapons". Russia didn't agree to cease-fire during Western Orthodox Christmas 25th Dec, neither for New Year. Ukraine should not agree to this proposal either, instead use it to let the Russians on the front have their life's experience of fireworks display. Russia doesn't propose this for them being pious, but to steer the Ukrainians back to the Russian Orthodox church (who support the war). So Ukraine: Don't do it, keep firing. *Slava Ukraini! - Heroyam Slava! - Stay safe!*

[thommyrubin]

How nice of him.. Also he might want the Russian soldiers to be able to attend at masses in Churches in Kyiv. Putin famous for always telling the truth and to keep his word. So of course.

[chiriaciulian]

And Santa will bring new shiny body bags for those well behaved orcs.

[brianmarkey]

I always thought Christmas was in December.