PUTIN ORDERS 36-HR CEASEFIRE IN UKRAINE FOR ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
Jan 05, 2023
By Bob Komsic
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Vladimir Putin’s ordered his forces to hold off fighting in Ukraine for 36-hours in a ceasefire to observe the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday this weekend, although some Christians in Ukraine and around the world also mark the holiday.
Putin’s order follows a proposal by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, which was dismissed by the Ukrainian presidential office as ”propaganda.”
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had proposed a Russian troop withdrawal before December 25th, but Moscow rejected it.
Meanwhile, Putin spoke by phone with Turkey’s president.
The Kremlin claims Putin ”reaffirmed Russia’s openness to a serious dialogue” with Ukrainian authorities.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Putin to implement a ”unilateral ceasefire,” according to a statement from the Turkish leader’s office.
Erdogan also repeated that Turkey was ready to mediate a ”lasting peace.”