Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to run during Orthodox Christmas, a move quickly dismissed by war-battered Kyiv and its allies.
Putin's directive to his troops was announced days after Moscow suffered its deadliest reported loss of the invasion, following 11 months of brutal combat -- and as Ukraine's allies indicated that fresh military aid was on the way.
Russia "must leave the occupied territories -- only then will it have a 'temporary truce'," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter. "Keep hypocrisy to yourself.""He was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches" on December 25 and on New Year's Day, he said. "I think he's trying to find some oxygen."
Putin is open to dialogue with Ukraine if Kyiv recognizes "the new territorial realities", said the Kremlin, in a summary of his telephone conversation with Erdogan Thursday. The 76-year-old Orthodox leader has given his blessing to Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and delivered heavily anti-Western and anti-Kyiv sermons throughout the conflict.
In May, the Moscow-backed branch of Ukraine's Orthodox Church severed ties with Russia, citing his lack of condemnation of the fighting.News of Putin's ceasefire order came as German government sources told AFP Thursday both Berlin and Washington were planning a "qualitative new step" in their weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
Macron's announcement on Wednesday made France the first western country to announce the delivery of such weapons to Ukraine.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Putin orders screening of Ukraine assault documentariesPresident Vladimir Putin ordered his government on Tuesday to ensure by February the screening in cinemas of documentary films dedicated to his assault on Ukraine and the fight against “neo-Nazi” ideology.
Read more »
DepED on resumption of classes after Christmas break: ‘No untoward incidents so far’The resumption of classes in public schools after the Christmas break has been smooth and orderly so far, the Department of Education (DepED) on Wednesday, Jan. 4, said.
Read more »
Moscow says Ukrainian rocket strike kills 63 Russian troops → BusinessMirrorKYIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian forces fired rockets at a facility in the eastern Donetsk region where Russian soldiers were stationed, killing 63 of them, Russia’s defense ministry said Monday, in one of the deadliest attacks on the Kremlin’s forces since the war began more than 10 months ago. Ukrainian forces fired six rockets from a HIMARS launch
Read more »
Ukraine says Russia plans new mobilization to 'turn tide of war'Kyiv has been saying for weeks that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to order another mass conscription drive and shut his borders to prevent men from escaping the draft.
Read more »
It’s back to the salt mineMSOpinion It’s back to the salt mine ' We are starting the year on the wrong foot with tens of thousands of air travelers being stranded due to antiquated equipment and power glitches '
Read more »
DTI Region 11 ends 2022 with ₧7.2M in Christmas trade exhibition sales | Manuel CayonDAVAO CITY—Trade exhibitors in a year-end product exposition raked in P7.2 million in sales and booked negotiation, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 11 said the bigger accomplishment came with the successful participation of small businesses that underwent its mentorship program last year. The DTI said that…
Read more »