Joe Biden estimated on Thursday that Vladimir Putin was trying to “give himself some air” by announcing a ceasefire in Ukraine on the occasion of Orthodox Christmas, which would be the first major truce since the start of the Russian invasion.
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The Russian president “was ready to bomb hospitals, nurseries and churches (…) on December 25 and on New Year’s (…) I think he is trying to give himself some air”, has said the American president, questioned on this subject after a speech at the White House.
Joe Biden announced shortly after, in concert with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, increased military assistance to Ukraine, including the delivery by the two countries of light armored vehicles.
Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered his army to observe a ceasefire “along the entire line of contact between the parties in Ukraine” on January 6-7, an announcement that follows a call to that effect from Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill , but also a proposal from the Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Russia must leave the occupied territories, only then will there be a ‘temporary truce’. Keep your hypocrisy”, reacted on Twitter the adviser to the Ukrainian presidency Mykhaïlo Podoliak.
“If Putin wanted peace, he would bring his soldiers home and the war would be over. But apparently he wants to continue the war, after a brief interruption,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the same social network.