Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian army in Ukraine to observe a 36-hour cease-fire in observance of Orthodox Christmas from noon January 6 to midnight January 7 Moscow time. Putin said, “Proceeding from the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the areas of hostilities, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and allow them to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on Christmas Day.” No immediate response has been given by the Ukrainian government. This is the first major truce since Russia invaded Ukraine last February.
