Russian president Vladimir Putin has called for a 36-hour ceasefire beginning at noon on Friday in observance of Russian Orthodox Christmas, the Kremlin said Thursday.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak dismissed Putin’s order as “hypocrisy.”
“Ukraine doesn’t attack foreign territory & doesn’t kill civilians. As [the Russian Federation] does,” he said in a tweet. Russia “must leave the occupied territories—only then will it have a ‘temporary truce’. Keep hypocrisy to yourself,” he added.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said he would not agree to any truce that sees Russian troops occupying Ukrainian territory, according to the Wall Street Journal, explaining that such a cease fire would only give Russians an opportunity to replenish and rearm.
Putin’s order came, at least partially, in response to a request by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.
“Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation to introduce from 12:00 January 6, 2023 until 24:00 January 7, 2023, a ceasefire along the entire line of contact between the parties in Ukraine,” Putin’s order read.
“Based on the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the combat areas, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ,” the order added.
The order comes after Russian forces bombed Ukrainian cities on New Year’s Eve. Russians also shelled the Kherson area on December 24 and 25, killing at least 10 people, according to Bloomberg. Many Ukrainians chose to celebrate Christmas on December 25 this year, in a rebuke of the Russian church.
Asked to respond to Putin’s order on Thursday, President Biden told reporters he is “reluctant to respond to anything Putin says.”
“I found it interesting. He was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches … on the 25th and New Year’s. I think he’s trying to find some oxygen,” Biden said.