The Kremlin announced on Thursday the end of a 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine in celebration of an Eastern Orthodox Christmas, which could be the most expansive cease-fire in the world since Russia invaded the country in February. The Ukrainian leaders have dismissed the idea as a fake ploy to woo the ruthless and untrustworthy adversary.

Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has declared a cease-fire beginning at noon on Friday, and lasting until midnight Saturday The Kremlin as well as the Defense Ministry said in separate announcements. "Given that a large number of citizens practicing Orthodoxy resides in the areas of hostilities, we call on the Ukrainian side to announce a cease-fire and give them an opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve and the day of Christ's birth," the Kremlin declared.

The president Volodymyr Zelensky from Ukraine was a bit sarcastic in his evening video message although he didn't explicitly deny the idea. After changing to talking in Ukrainian in Russian and addressing Russians Russian populace directly, Zelensky referred to the people whom he said "sent all of your people to be slaughtered" and "do not strive for peace."

"Now they want to use Christmas as a cover" to slow down Ukrainian advancements "and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized troops closer to our positions," the official declared. "Everyone in the world knows how the Kremlin uses lulls in the war to continue the war with new force," said the official.

Russia has repeatedly rejected and according to Ukraine repeatedly violated -- and repeatedly violated -- the limited local cease-fires designed to allow humanitarian evacuations as well as aid delivery in besieged areas such as Mariupol.

The Kremlin's announcement is coming as Russian forces, following a series of setbacks, are rushing to construct defenses, transport new soldiers to the front, and rebuild the units that were destroyed. In the wake of the high cost of what was initially advertised as a fast and easy war is revealed to everyday Russians as well, President. Putin has become more attentive to concerns from the public regarding the war. In the meantime his government, in isolation, has been trying to influence opinions in the world.

In Washington the in Washington, President Biden stated that it was apparent that the Russian President. Putin was "trying to find some oxygen" by announcing an announcement of ceasefire. "I am reluctant to respond to anything Putin says," Biden said. Biden said. "I found it interesting he was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches on the 25th and New Year's."

It is reported that the United States and Germany, in turn announced on Thursday they will supply Ukraine with armored combat vehicle for the very first time in a while, the same day that France also announced the same but didn't provide any numbers. Ukrainian officials have been begging over the past few months to receive armored cars such as those that are now being promised, including for example, the American Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the French AMX-10 RC and the German Marder, as well as Western tanks and tanks, which the allies of Ukraine have been unable to provide.

The Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, following a telephone conversation with Vice President. Biden, said Germany will also give Ukraine the Patriot missile, which is the most advanced American-made air defense weapon in two weeks following Biden had promised the president to send Ukraine their very first Patriot system.

After losing ground in the latter part of summer, Russian forces shifted to bombing civilian targets across Ukraine which destroyed electricity and heating systems, making air defenses crucial to Ukrainians to make it through winter. There hasn't been much movement in the battlefield recently but this is expected to change over the next months, placing a greater demand to armored vehicle.

Analysts from the military and political world have described the president. Putin's cease-fire declaration as a PR ploy which he will try to profit from regardless of what Ukraine reacts. If Kyiv is willing to sign cease-fire, as they suggested that it will allow Putin. Putin to present himself as an ally in peace.

If Ukraine does not acknowledge it, Russia could try to argue for a higher moral standard in spite of the fact that Russia initiated the war and its troops committed numerous atrocities. They could also use ongoing hostilities to degrade Ukraine in the opinions of Russian and global public opinion.

Pavel Luzhin, a Russian military analyst, has said that his Kremlin "needs a break to partially restore its military power" but, knowing Kyiv is not likely to agree to cease-fire, it is trying to appeal to the domestic market. "The Kremlin is going to demonstrate to Russians, who are mostly tired from the war, why the Russian leadership needs to continue fighting," Luzhin stated.

Recently, Ukraine has claimed to use artillery with long range to cause massive casualties in attacks against a number of Russian troops that are behind the frontlines. The Russians have confirmed massive losses at one point. Tatiana Stanovaya, a Russian political analyst, told the president. Putin could be trying to prevent another catastrophe during the Christmas season.

Within hours, some of. Putin's most hawkish ally seemed to be sabotaging his plans. Certain supporters of war Russian nationalists rejected cease-fire ideas in a flurry, highlighting the deep animosity between them.

"We -- Russian soldiers and volunteers -- don't want any compromises," a prominent military blogger, Vladlen Tatarsky, wrote on the Telegram messaging application. "We want to kill every person dressed in the uniform of the enemy's army."

The most famous Kremlin agent in occupied Ukraine, Denis Pushilin, wrote on Telegram that "there can be no talk of any truce," and that the cease-fire "doesn't mean that we will not respond to the opponent's provocations." Mr. Pushilin was the leader of the self-proclaimed state breakaway within the Donetsk region, which Russia claims to annex and claimed that the cease-fire was only applicable for Orthodox Christians, not to the leaders of Ukraine (which could be an ode towards Mr. Zelensky's status as Jewish.

There are some Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on December. 25 Particularly in the western portion of Ukraine, which has significant Roman Catholic population. However, Orthodox churches, that adhere to the Julian calendar instead of the modern Gregorian calendar, observe the date on the 7th of January. 7 which falls on a Saturday.

The announcement by Russia came just moments after the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch Kirill I, a close allies of Putin. Putin, called for an end to the war in order for Orthodox Christians on both sides of the frontline to go to church. President Recep Tayyip Erdoan of Turkey who has established himself as mediator in the war has spoken to Putin on Thursday. Putin on Thursday and also requested an end of the conflict.

Ned Price, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said to reporters that the Kremlin's declaration appeared "cynical." He added, "I think we know better than to take anything we see or hear from Russia at face value."

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior advisor for the late Mr. Zelensky, spurned the cease-fire plan of the Kremlin in a statement that he described as an "propaganda gesture" and a "banal trick."

"After 10 months of genocide, after hundreds of destroyed Ukrainian churches, isn't it too late for the Kremlin to think of God?" Ukraine's defense ministry inquired through social media. The foreign ministry added that the Russian president. Putin's idea "cannot and should not be taken seriously."

Ukrainian officials have claimed that Russia of disrupting the build-up to Orthodox Christmas by launching a series of attacks against civilians. An Russian strikes on Thursday within the Kherson region claimed the lives of the family of three including a 12-year old boy who was getting ready to spend Christmas at home, authorities said.

Reporting was provided by Alina Lobzina Megan Specia, Cassandra Vinograd, Anushka Patil, John Ismay and Safak Timur.
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