Russia rejects “Christmas ceasefire” in Ukraine

Russia has rejected calls by Kyiv to withdraw troops by Christmas, ruling out the possibility of a “Christmas ceasefire”.

Zelenskiy said this week that Russia should start withdrawing by Christmas to end the conflict. Still, Moscow rejected the proposal, saying Ukraine must accept the loss of territory to Russia before any progress can be made.

Asked on Wednesday whether Moscow had seen proposals for a “Christmas ceasefire,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “No, no such offers have been received from anybody. This topic is not on the agenda.”

On Wednesday, December 14, Ukraine experienced the first major drone attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv in weeks. Two administrative buildings were hit, but air defences largely repelled the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 13 drones had been shot down.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed, millions more displaced and cities reduced to rubble since Russia invaded its neighbour on Feb. 24, saying it needed to protect Russian speakers from Ukrainian far-right nationlists. Kyiv and its allies call it an unprovoked war of choice