2023 Russian Christmas truce proposal

2023 Russian Christmas truce proposal
Part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Date5–7 January 2023
LocationEurope
Participantsabout 90% of Russian forces in Ukraine at the time (according to Russia)[1][2]
OutcomePartially applied

On 5 January 2023, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, called on both sides of the Russian invasion of Ukraine for an Eastern Orthodox Christmas truce.[3] On the evening of the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to declare a 36-hour temporary ceasefire along the entire line of contact between Russian and Ukrainian troops from midday (12:00 Moscow Time; 09:00 UTC) on 6 January to midnight (24:00/00:00 Moscow Time; 21:00 UTC) on 7 to 8 January 2023.[4][5][6]

The truce proposal was rejected by the Ukrainian authorities, who called it a "cynical trap".[7][8][9][10] Despite the ceasefire being declared, it had little effect as fighting persisted.[11]

The Wagner Group (about 10% of Russia's total forces in Ukraine at the time[2]) did not commit to the ceasefire and was not ordered to observe it (it was not a part of the Russian Defense Ministry).[1]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference meduza60947877 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BBC60947877 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Russian patriarch calls for Orthodox Christmas truce in Ukraine". Reuters. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Putin instructs Russian Defense Minister to declare ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas". Meduza. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Putin Orders a Surprise 36-Hour Cease-Fire for Orthodox Christmas". Bloomberg.com. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fouché was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Zelensky's office criticizes Orthodox Patriarch Kirill's Christmas truce proposal". Meduza. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Putin has ordered a "Christmas truce" which may be a "cynical trap," Ukrainian officials warned (updated)". Euromaidan Press. 5 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Ukraine rejects Vladimir Putin's call for Orthodox Christmas truce". ABC News. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Ukraine spurns Putin's Christmas truce". Reuters. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Little Let-up in Fighting as Ukraine, Russia Mark Orthodox Christmas". The Moscow Times. 7 January 2023.