Russian President Putin announces 36-hour ceasefire

Moscow/Kyiv: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a 36-hour unilateral ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Orthodox Christians living in large numbers in Russia and Eastern Ukraine celebrate Christmas on January 7. The Russian President has declared a ceasefire in this background. However, Western countries, including Ukraine, have expressed scepticism over Putin’s announcement and criticised it as part of Russia’s tactics. More than ten months have passed since the Russia-Ukraine conflict, during which many countries attempted a ceasefire.

Reports also had been published that India, France and Turkey have taken the initiative. Information had also surfaced that Turkish and Russian Presidents had a telephone conversation on Thursday. Moreover, Russian media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had said he would be ready for peace talks if Ukraine accepted it had lost territory in the conflict with Russia.

At the same time, Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, had called for a ceasefire on the occasion of the Christmas festival celebrated by the Orthodox Church. The Russian President announced a ceasefire taking note of this appeal. A statement released by President Putin explained that the ceasefire would be in effect from noon on Friday, January 6, to midnight on Saturday, Russian Standard Time. It is the first time that Russia has announced such a ceasefire.

However, Ukraine and the United States have been criticising Russia’s ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the announcement was part of efforts to stop Ukrainian forces from forging ahead. Zelensky also alleged that Russia would increase its deployment on various fronts in Eastern Ukraine by taking advantage of this ceasefire. Besides, US President Joe Biden also expressed scepticism over Russia’s ceasefire announcement. Biden said that Russian President Putin was trying to get some oxygen.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the United States and Germany announced new arms supplies to Ukraine. A joint statement of both countries said that the US would be supplying Ukraine with Bradley lightweight tanks and Germany would give Patriot missiles to Ukraine.

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