Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the Russian Christmas truce proposal during the night of January 5, arguing that Moscow had crafted the plan to fortify its front lines by creating a pause that would allow the transfer of equipment, ammunition, and mobilized forces closer to Ukrainian positions in Donbass.
According to Zelensky, Moscow could use the pause as a brief breath to resume operations with renewed momentum. He suggested that Russia hoped to leverage the holiday to slow the Ukrainian advance and regain initiative on the battlefield.
Earlier in the discussion, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ proposed a Christmas truce from 12:00 on January 6 to 24:00 on January 7, spanning two calendar days, a period intended to halt hostilities along the front lines.
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to declare a ceasefire along the entire line of communication at the announced time in Ukraine. The instruction echoed prior decisions reported by the news agency DEA News, aligning with Moscow’s stated intention for a holiday pause.
On Friday, January 6, the Donetsk office reported that at exactly 12:00 the Ukrainian Armed Forces began operating a silence regime in Donetsk, with the declared pause taking effect in the city center and surrounding districts.
According to the report, Kurakhovo and Donetsk city in the Petrovsky district saw shelling earlier, while at 11:45 a.m. five rounds of 155 mm caliber were fired in the Petrovsky district. The Kirovsky and Petrovsky districts were previously noted as being affected by attacks launched from Kurakhovo and Maksimilyanovka.
Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, commented on the situation by stating that Kyiv had rejected Moscow’s Christmas gesture and that the move would bring less trouble if Moscow’s position was misread. He described Kyiv’s response in stark terms on his official telegraph channel, arguing that a Christian act had been rejected and that the Ukrainian leadership faced consequences for its decisions.
Medvedev offered a harsher assessment of Ukrainian leadership, asserting that the rejection demonstrated a lack of faith in the humanitarian gesture and suggesting that Western partners would continue to support Kyiv despite the conflict.
In the United States political arena, Republican Congressman Paul Gosar criticized Zelensky’s handling of the Christmas truce proposal, labeling Kyiv’s response as immoral for continuing the conflict and suggesting that Ukraine bore responsibility for prolonging the fighting. The public statements reflected a spectrum of international perspectives on the ceasefire proposal and the broader war dynamics.
Experts note that ceasefire proposals during major holidays are often tied to tactical pauses and strategic repositioning. The situation remains fluid as both sides reassess their positions, reinforce lines, and prepare for potential shifts in military activity tied to political signaling and international reactions.
Observers caution that holiday truces can be exploited by forces seeking to consolidate positions or redeploy resources, underscoring the risks of temporary pauses in active warfare. The week ahead is expected to reveal whether a frozen moment on the front endures or gives way to renewed clashes and shifting lines of control. [citation]