International

NATO's reaction to Moscow's ceasefire: "Russia started the war and Putin can stop it today"

Russia is the one that started the war in Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin "can stop it today" by withdrawing his troops from the neighbouring country, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) reacted to the announcement made a day ago by the Russian head of state regarding the unilateral establishment of a 36-hour truce in the conflict in Ukraine on the occasion of the old-style Christmas celebration, Agerpres reports.

In a statement, the spokeswoman of the North Atlantic Alliance, Oana Lungescu, referred to the response of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who accused Russia of wanting to "use Christmas as a cover" to stop the advance of the Ukrainian army in Donbas and to bring equipment and ammunition closer to his positions.

Also, Oana Lungescu added that NATO will continue to support Ukraine to protect its right to self-defence, enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

Radio Moldova recalls that today, the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Kirilo Tymoshenko, announced on Telegram that the Russian army violated the ceasefire ordered by Moscow and bombed the city of Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, twice. AFP reported that shelling was heard on both sides of the front in Bahamut, the epicentre of the fighting in eastern Ukraine, after the ceasefire decreed by Moscow came into effect.

Read more