Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shrugged off Russia's call for a 36-hour ceasefire from Friday noon to mark Orthodox Christmas on Saturday. He said the proposal was "a cover" to stop the progress of Ukraine's forces in the eastern parts of the country.

Zelenskyy said in a video address on Thursday that Russia wanted to use the truce "to at least briefly stop the advance of our guys in Donbas and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized men closer to our positions."

He went on to say, "Everyone in the world knows how the Kremlin uses respites at war to continue the war with renewed vigor."

Zelenskyy added that to end the war faster, Russians must "find the courage to free themselves of their shameful fear of one man in the Kremlin, at least for 36 hours, at least at Christmas time."