Ukraine's president accuses Russia of using Orthodox Christmas cease-fire as ‘a cover'

By Rabia İclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Thursday of using a cease-fire order to mark Orthodox Christmas as a cover to halt Ukraine's military advances.

"They now want to use Christmas as a cover, albeit briefly, to halt the advances of our boys in Donbas and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized troops closer to our positions," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price called Putin’s cease-fire announcement “cynical,” adding: “We have little faith in the intentions behind this announcement.”

“I think we know better than to take anything we see or hear from Russia at face value,” he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 36-hour cease-fire along the entire line of contact in Ukraine from noon Moscow time Friday until midnight on Saturday, the Kremlin announced Thursday.

Ukraine's presidential adviser earlier reacted against Russia's unilateral temporary truce announced hours earlier for Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 6-7.

"First. Ukraine doesn't attack foreign territory & doesn't kill civilians. As RF does. Ukraine destroys only members of the occupation army on its territory," Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted.