During Christmas services: Putin instructed to introduce a ceasefire on the line of contact from 12:00 on January 6

Vladimir Putin instructed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to introduce a temporary ceasefire along the entire line of contact between the parties in Ukraine.

“Given the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation to introduce a ceasefire regime along the entire line of contact between the parties in Ukraine from 12:00 on January 6, 2023 to 24:00 on January 7, 2023,” the Kremlin’s press service cites the president’s instruction. .

The Ministry of Defense confirmed that, in accordance with the instructions of the President, instructions were given to the troops to introduce a ceasefire regime for 36 hours.

The Russian leader also called on Kyiv to take similar action, noting that a large number of Orthodox citizens live in the areas of hostilities.

“We call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the day of the Nativity of Christ,” the message says.

Earlier in the day, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' called for a Christmas truce from 12:00 on January 6 until the end of the day on January 7.

He called for a ceasefire so that Orthodox people could attend church services.

Putin on Russia's readiness for dialogue

Earlier, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which the Russian leader stressed Moscow's openness to dialogue on Ukraine.

“In the light of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s readiness for Turkish mediation for a political settlement of the conflict, Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s openness to a serious dialogue,” the message says.

It is noted that Kyiv must also take into account the new territorial realities and fulfill the repeatedly voiced requirements.

In addition, the Russian side emphasized the need for a conscientious approach, which implies the removal of all barriers to Russian exports in accordance with the July agreements reached in Istanbul.

At the same time, the Russian leader emphasized the destructive role of the West.

“On the Russian side, the destructive role of Western states is emphasized, pumping up the Kyiv regime with weapons and military equipment,” the Kremlin’s press service cites the content of the conversation.

Along with this, it was noted that Western countries provide Kyiv with operational information and target designations.

On the eve it became known about the intentions of Western countries to expand the supply of weapons and equipment to Ukraine.

Thus, the French media reported that President Emmanuel Macron, during a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky, agreed to supply the Ukrainian army with AMX-10RC armored vehicles.

Also on russian.rt.com Package with missiles: can the delivery of one Patriot battery affect the combat capability of the Ukrainian army

Along with this, the White House reported that the United States is considering the possibility of supplying the Ukrainian army with Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

In addition, in late December, US President Joe Biden announced that the Ukrainian army would receive one Patriot air defense system battery as part of a new military aid package.

This was stated by the head of the White House during the visit of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington.

The Russian side has repeatedly noted that the supply of foreign weapons to Ukraine is becoming a legitimate goal of the RF Armed Forces.

In mid-December, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, spoke about this.

“We would like to remind you that all the weapons supplied by the West to Ukraine are a legitimate military target for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and will either be destroyed or captured, which our country has repeatedly spoken about,” she said during a briefing held on December 15.

On the eve of Zelensky’s visit to Washington, during which the White House announced its intention to supply the Patriot system to Kyiv, the legitimacy of choosing such cargoes as targets was stated, among other things, by Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev and press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov.