On December 14, 2022, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (55) ruled out a ceasefire around the Orthodox Christmas celebration. His boss has since changed his mind. Surprisingly, Russian President Vladimir Putin (70) ordered a one-and-a-half-day unilateral ceasefire on Thursday. It is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Friday.
It would be the first time since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine that Moscow has declared a full ceasefire in the country. Officially, the ceasefire has a religious background. Putin was responding to a call from Russian Patriarch Kirill, 76, who asked for such a ceasefire during the Orthodox Christmas celebrated in both countries. Kirill supports Putin and his policies and preaches against Kiev and the West.
However, the experts at the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suspect something other than religious reasons behind the Christmas peace. Apparently, the Russian army needs a break – to prepare a new major offensive.
Striking announcement from the Minister of Defense
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (44) is also convinced that this is not just a ceasefire. Russia wants to use Christmas as an excuse to bring “equipment, ammunition and conscripts” closer to Ukrainian positions, he said in a video message. The Russian leadership is in a desperate situation and is ready for various manipulations.
Striking: Just before the announcement, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (67) announced an inventory of the army. The German political scientist Thomas Jäger (62) sees this in an interview with “ntv” as an indication of the preparation of a new offensive that Ukraine must “monitor very closely”.
According to the ISW, Putin also wants to damage Ukraine’s reputation by ceasing the fighting. Putin is trying to portray Ukraine as intransigent and unwilling to take the necessary steps to negotiate. Ukraine should also be seen as an oppressor of religious groups.
Russian occupation chief wants to respond to Ukrainian attacks despite ceasefire
The Kiev leadership described the ceasefire as “hypocrisy”. Observers in the Ukrainian capital believed the ceasefire could save Ukrainians from rocket and drone attacks during the Christmas season.
On the fronts in the east and south of the attacked country, on the other hand, the situation is unlikely to change. Mykhailo Podoliak (50), adviser in the Ukrainian presidential office, stressed that a “temporary ceasefire” cannot begin until Russia leaves the occupied territories.
The question is whether the one-sided Christmas peace will actually last. Denis Puschilin, 41, an occupation chief deployed by Moscow to eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, said Russian troops will continue to respond to Ukrainian attacks despite Putin’s orders. The enemy is not given a chance “to improve his positions on the front line during these holiday hours”.
Marian Nadler
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
