Russian President Vladimir Putin has actually purchased his troops to observe a momentary ceasefire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas on Jan.

6-7, the Kremlin revealed on Thursday.

The choice follows calls by Russias spiritual leader, Patriarch Kirill, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously on Thursday for a ceasefire in the 10-month conflict, though there is no recommendation that the short cessation of hostilities will cause the negotiating table, as Ergodan had actually recommended in a telephone call with Putin earlier in the day.

Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I advise the defense minister of the Russian Federation to present a ceasefire from 12:00 on Jan.

6, 2023 up until 24:00 on January 7, 2023 along the whole line of contact between the sides in Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement.The Kremlin prompted Kiev to follow its example and order the Ukrainian military to observe a ceasefire too.

Based on the truth that a large number of Orthodox residents reside in the areas of hostilities, we get in touch with the Ukrainian side to state a ceasefire and allow residents to attend Christmas services, the declaration said.Kiev declined the Kremlin proposition, nevertheless, calling it a negative trap.

The Russian Orthodox Church has actually called for the genocide of Ukrainians, motivated mass murder, and insists on the even greater militarization of Russia.

For that reason, the declaration about the Christmas truce is a negative trap and an element of propaganda, stated Mikhail Podolyak, a senior advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

AFP contributed reporting.