Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine on Orthodox Christmas, celebrated this week by both countries, according to the Kremlin
This is the first time Russia has introduced a full ceasefire in Ukraine since the launch of the offensive in February last year.
In a call with the Russian leader earlier today, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressed Mr Putin to declare a"unilateral" ceasefire in Ukraine. The governor of neighbouring Luhansk region, meanwhile, said Ukrainian troops were recapturing areas there"step-by-step" but cautioned it was"not happening fast".
It is located on a strategic supply line between the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Gaining control of the city, with a pre-war population of 70,000-80,000 that has shrunk to close to 10,000, could give Russia a stepping stone to advance on two bigger cities - Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. A senior US administration official also predicted a long road ahead in the war that has now raged for nearly 11 months.
Mr Zelensky thanked Mr Macron but said:"There is no rational reason why Ukraine has not yet been supplied with Western tanks."
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