Rejecting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ceasefire proposal this week, Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy made a direct appeal to Russian citizens to oppose the war.
“To end the war…to end the aggression of your state,” he said in a late-night speech on Thursday.
Zelenskyy’s comments came just hours after Putin asked his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to order a ceasefire from January 6-7 in recognition of Christmas in the Russian Orthodox Church.
Zelenskyy’s office rejected the proposal as a “cynical trap and a propaganda piece”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a video conference meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 1.
(Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo via AP)
PUTIN ORDERES TEMPORARY CEASE FIRE IN UKRAINE IN OBSERVATION OF ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS
“Everyone in the world knows how the Kremlin uses the respites in the war to continue the war with renewed vigor,” Zelenskyy said in a late-night speech. “What is needed are the citizens of Russia…[to] find the courage to free himself from his shameful fear of a man in the Kremlin”.
“Your fear of him destroys your country,” he added.
Zelenskyy pointed to Kyiv’s attempts to implement a peace plan and bring about an end to the war, though Moscow rejected the plan, calling for Russian troops to start withdrawing on Dec. 25.
BAKHMUT, UKRAINE – JANUARY 4: Ukrainian soldiers stand near a stele with a Ukrainian flag and a handwritten inscription reading “Bakhmut is Ukraine” on January 4, 2023 in Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine.
(Photo by Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
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“As of that day, the number of Russian soldiers killed was almost 95,000,” he said. “As of today, it has already lost almost 110,000 of its soldiers.”
“The war will end when their soldiers leave or we expel them,” he added.
Zelenskyy reiterated his concern that Russia is planning a major operation in an attempt to “turn the tide” in the war amid the failure of his troops to advance the line after losing significant swaths of territory starting in September with the withdrawal. from Kharkiv.
Ukrainian soldiers fire a Pion artillery system at Russian positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Friday, December 16, 2022.
(AP Photo/LIBKOS)
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Kyiv has not detailed what it believes Moscow is planning, but has warned that Russia will “throw everything it has” into the war.
Putin’s ceasefire proposal came just weeks after he instructed defense officials to review their war effort by better supplying Russian troops, bolstering missile stockpiles and preparing Russia’s “nuclear triad” to the fight.
