A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Wednesday condemned Russia’s killing of civilians in Ukraine on Christmas, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of rejecting a holiday ceasefire and instead ordering attacks on one of Christianity’s holiest days.
In a joint statement, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) denounced Russian strikes on a number of cities as Ukrainians gathered to mark Christmas.
“We condemn Russia’s brutal attacks on Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Donetsk and Kryvyi Rih waged on innocent Ukrainians as they convened to mark the birth of the Prince of Peace with their loved ones and in prayer,” the senators said.
The lawmakers emphasized that even during wartime, Christmas ceasefires have long been observed, pointing to World War I as a notable example. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to a Christmas truce, they said, but Putin refused.
“It bears repeating that President Zelenskyy agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined,” the statement said. “Today’s decision by Putin to launch attacks rather than hold fire is a sobering reminder for us all: Putin is a ruthless murderer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted.”
The statement is notable because the three Republicans who signed it, Tillis, Barrasso, and Mora, directly contradict the Trump administration’s position that Russia is “committed to peace,” underscoring a bipartisan split over how to characterize Moscow’s intentions.
Zelensky, in a Christmas Eve address, acknowledged the anger many Ukrainians feel toward Putin after years of war.
“‘May he perish,’ each of us may think to ourselves,” Zelensky said. “But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater. We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it. And we pray for it. And we deserve it, so that every Ukrainian family lives in harmony.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the remarks as “uncultured, embittered, and coming from a seemingly unhinged person,” according to Russian media, and questioned whether Zelensky was capable of making “any rational decisions.”
The exchange came as Zelensky pressed forward with renewed diplomatic efforts. A day earlier, he presented Russia with a new 20-point peace plan that includes creating a “fortress belt” along the defensive line in eastern Donetsk, territory Ukraine has held since 2014, aimed at preventing further Kremlin incursions.
In a post on X, Zelensky said Ukrainians were marking their “fourth wartime Christmas during the full-scale war, the largest in Europe since World War II,” as Russia launched missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s energy grid, causing power outages and continuing front-line assaults.
“Moscow has not only rejected the request to end the killing at least for this Holy Day; instead, Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike,” Zelensky wrote, adding that Russia continues to reject ceasefire proposals and is seeking to prolong the war.
ZELENSKY OFFERS DEMILITARIZED ZONE IN DONETSK AS US PUSHES UKRAINE AND RUSSIA TO COMPROMISE
Zelensky also said he held a long and “positive” meeting with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, describing discussions that included “good ideas,” extensive details, and new Ukrainian proposals on peace. Draft documents, he said, are nearly ready, though “sensitive issues” remain unresolved and the coming weeks may be diplomatically intensive.
Ukraine thanked the United States for its support and urged continued pressure on Russia, warning that allowing Moscow to drag out the war would have “harsh consequences.”