Ukraine calls Russia’s unilateral temporary truce ‘hypocrisy’

ANKARA

Ukraine’s presidential adviser on Thursday lashed out on Russia’s unilateral temporary truce announced hours earlier for Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 6-7.

“First. Ukraine doesn’t attack foreign territory & doesn’t kill civilians. As RF does. Ukraine destroys only members of the occupation army on its territory,” Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted.

Podolyak also called on Russia to “leave the occupied territories – only then will it have a ‘temporary truce’. Keep hypocrisy to yourself.”

Earlier on Thursday, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church called for a truce in Ukraine for the occasion of the Christmas Day, which is celebrated by most Orthodox Christians on Jan. 7, this year falling on Saturday.

In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a cease-fire along the entire line of contact in Ukraine from noon Moscow time Friday till midnight on Saturday.

• Mykhailo Podolyak
• Russia
• Truce
• Ukraine