China News Service, January 6 (Reporter Meng Xiangjun) According to Russian President Vladimir Putin's instructions, from 12:00 on January 6 to 24:00 on January 7, local time, Russian troops implemented a ceasefire across the Ukrainian combat contact line.
When the 36-hour ceasefire was implemented this time, the Russian side has received three bad news and two good news. I don’t know what kind of news will come next?
At least for now, the game is still fierce, the situation is still complicated, and the West is still fighting...
First bad news, Ukraine's rejection
The first bad news is that after Putin announced a ceasefire in the Russian army and called on the Ukrainian side to do the same, Ukrainian President Zelensky immediately refused.
Zelensky accused Russia of wanting to "use the ceasefire to strengthen the cover of front-line positions", prevent the Ukrainian army from continuing to advance in the strategic industrial zone and the eastern front Donbass, and move Russian equipment, ammunition and troops closer to the Ukrainian army positions. Location.
The direct reason for this ceasefire is that Putin adopted the proposal of the "Christmas ceasefire" proposed by the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill.
Data map: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Christmas celebration ceremony. January 7th is Orthodox Christmas every year.
A report from the Kremlin Press Bureau stated: "Based on the fact that a large number of people who believe in the Orthodox Church live in the war zone, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire so that they (the people) have the opportunity to participate in religious and ritual activities on Christmas Eve and Christmas."
The crisis in Ukraine continued to be tense, and Putin announced a ceasefire at a critical moment, confirming the status of the Orthodox Church in his mind.
Putin, who has always admired traditional Russian values and pursued pragmatic conservatism, not only gave speeches at Orthodox Easter and attended celebrations at Christmas, but also stepped into the ice pool for three dips in swimming trunks on Epiphany, symbolizing "purification of the soul" and celebrating Jesus was born.
Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov said that as an Orthodox Christian, this is Putin's tradition, "he does not betray tradition."
On January 19, 2021 local time, Russian Orthodox Epiphany, Russian President Vladimir Putin stepped into the ice pool to soak according to the custom.
Image source: Screenshot of Russian Satellite News Agency report
So what does this have to do with Ukraine's rejection of a ceasefire?
In fact, like Russia, Ukraine is also an Orthodox country and celebrates Christmas on January 7.
For hundreds of years, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. However, with the disintegration of the Soviet Union, especially after the changes in Ukraine in 2014, conflicts between the two churches have gradually expanded.
It is worth noting that when Putin launched a special military operation against Ukraine in February 2022, one of the most important tasks that the Russian military was required to complete was to realize the "denazification" of Ukraine.
Specifically, Ukrainian law prohibits extreme right-wing groups and political movements, and protects the interests of ethnic minorities such as Russians. The objects of protection include traditional Russian language, culture, and Orthodox Church.
In October 2022, the Uzbekistan Orthodox Church announced that it would allow churches and believers to "freely choose the time to celebrate Christmas" between December 25 and January 7 of the following year.
Some believers in Uzbekistan began to move closer to Western Christian countries, celebrating Christmas on December 25, and gradually drifting away from the Orthodox tradition.
Data map: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Using religion and culture as a link to call on Uzbekistan to "return to orthodoxy", does Putin really have this intention?
Ukraine's refusal to agree with Russia to cease fire on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas, does it mean a further severance of historical and spiritual ties with Russia?
According to the analysis, Zelensky is a Jew, and the people who believe in the Orthodox Church are concentrated in the eastern part of Ukraine, while most of the western part believe in Catholicism. Putin is not playing the religious card, but for military purposes; An important religious, historical and cultural pillar of the country.
It can only be said that the quarrel between brothers is a tragedy that many people do not want to see, but changes are indeed happening.
Some things may not go back.
The second bad news, the big move of the United States
"I don't really want to respond to any of Putin's speeches," U.S. President Biden said on January 5 that he believed Putin was "trying to get some oxygen (gasp)."
According to the report of the White House press team, Biden said at the US government meeting: "The situation in Ukraine is at a critical stage, and we should do everything possible to help Ukrainians resist Russia's aggression."
After the phone call between the leaders of the United States and Germany on the 5th, the White House also announced that Biden and German Chancellor Scholz have a "joint determination" to continue to provide Ukraine with financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic assistance "as much as it wants".
Data map: US President Biden.
Among them, the United States intends to provide Kyiv with the largest batch of military aid, which will reach a record-breaking US$3 billion.
It is speculated that this batch of military aid will include 50 "Bradley" and other infantry fighting vehicles.
Germany intends to provide the "Weasel" infantry fighting vehicle and the "Patriot" air defense missile system.
The two countries also plan to train the Ukrainian army to use related weapons.
Pentagon spokesman Ryder also expressed "high doubts" about Russia's announcement of a ceasefire.
He reiterated that the "focus of the United States is to continue to support Ukraine", while Western instructors have trained about 12,000 fighters for Ukraine, and at least 3,000 people have participated in the training of the United States.
In this regard, Russian ambassador to the United States Antonov criticized that the United States supplied weapons to Kyiv because it "does not want to use political means to solve the Ukrainian issue", but to "incite radicals to commit new crimes" through actions.
He accused Washington of being determined to "fight to the 'last Ukrainian'" with Russia and "not caring about the fate of the Ukrainian people."
The third bad news, Russian journalists were arrested
Just when Putin instructed the Russian army to cease fire, on January 5 local time, Russian journalists encountered another emergency.
Marat Kasem, a journalist and editor working for the Lithuanian branch of Sputnik, a subsidiary of the Russia Today news agency, was arrested by the Riga court in Latvia.
The Latvian, who lived in Moscow for several years and worked for Russian media, was accused of "suspected of violating (to Russia) sanctions and engaging in espionage activities", and Lithuanian intelligence agencies were involved.
Data map: Kashem, editor of the Lithuanian branch of the Russian Satellite News Agency.
Image source: Russian Satellite News Agency report screenshot
Russian Satellite News Agency reported that Kasem had previously stated that he "felt threatened", and his lawyer insisted on his release on bail, but the court decided to forcefully detain him and transfer him to Riga Central Prison.
In this regard, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova stated that Russia believes that Lithuania "violated all international obligations to freedom of speech and protection of journalists' rights" and asked international organizations responsible for freedom of speech to intervene in this matter.
"This is clear political persecution," Kiselev, the president of "Russia Today", believes that Latvia's arrest of Russian media reporters shows the "dangerous trend" of the country's regime and the entire European Union.
Latvia, Lithuania - two of the three Baltic countries have trouble with Russia, which once again touched Russia's nerves.
In fact, from dismantling Soviet monuments to calling on the Ukrainian army to attack Russian airports and missile sites, Latvia's anti-Russian sentiment is no lower than that of Lithuania, which has been rushing to the front line of anti-Russia.
The arrest of a Russian media reporter is the latest episode of the "anti-Russian drama series".
Two good news, can more good news come?
Let's look at the good news again.
First, after Putin announced the ceasefire, Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, made a positive evaluation.
Dujarric said at a press conference: "Christmas is a holy time for Russians and Ukrainians. During this holy time, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Guterres) can see the possibility of a cessation of fighting. Sex is always welcome."
He stressed that this "will not, after all, replace a just peace achieved in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law".
Dujarric's words can be said to be all keywords.
He pointed out that all parties cannot bypass the UN Charter and international law, and also reminded all parties to think about how to achieve a truly just peace?
Data map: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Second, it can be seen that the third party represented by Turkey has not given up on mediation.
On January 5, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had phone calls with both Putin and Zelensky, saying that Turkey was ready to mediate on a long-term ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
The Turkish side is also willing to make diplomatic efforts to speed up the settlement of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant issue, which is full of conflicts between Russia and Ukraine.
In short, when Putin announced a short-term ceasefire, good and bad news intertwined, which means that the intensity of the confrontation between Russia and the United States and Europe has not declined, and the scope is getting wider and wider, and the impact continues to expand; while the United Nations welcomes the ceasefire and Turkey continues to mediate, it includes It reflects the deep expectation of the international community for the resolution of conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and the restoration of peace.
(use up)