UPDATE - Ukraine calls Russia's unilateral temporary truce 'hypocrisy'

Ukraine only targets occupation forces on its territory, says presidential adviser

ADDS UKRAINIAN SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE COUNCIL STATEMENT

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Ukraine's presidential adviser lashed out Thursday at 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 demanded that Russia "leave the occupied territories - only then will it have a 'temporary truce'. Keep hypocrisy to yourself."

Ukraine will not conduct negotiations with Russia on a Christmas truce, said Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov.

He called the truce proposal "lies and hypocrisy," on Twitter. "We will bite you in the singing silence of the Ukrainian night."

Earlier Thursday, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church urged a truce in Ukraine for Christmas Day, 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 Friday local time until midnight Saturday.

Kaynak:

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