Prez Putin announces 36-hour ceasefire on Orthodox Church chief’s call

Moscow/ Kyiv: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a 36 hour cease fire to facilitate war torn citizens celebrate Christmas holidays. Russia and Ukraine are engaged in 10 months old war since Russian forces attacked neighbor on February 24 last year. The announcement was done by Putin on the request of Russian Orthodox Church chief Patriark Cyril. Ceasefire will be effective from Friday noon to Saturday midnight as the message from Putin to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected out of hand a Russian order for a truce over the Orthodox Christmas period, saying the proposed ceasefire is a trick to halt the Ukraine army’s progress in the eastern Donbas region and allow Moscow to bring in more troops, media reports said. Zelenskyy had earlier requested Russia to make ceasefire announcement from December 25, but it was rejected by Russian side.