Putin’s proposed cease-fire gets frosty reception in Kyiv, Washington

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered his troops to observe a 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine, but Kyiv flatly rejected the idea and cast it as blatant “hypocrisy” from Moscow, while U.S. officials said Mr. Putin likely would use any break in the fighting to rest and refit his weary forces for further assaults.

In a statement posted on the Kremlin’s website, Mr. Putin instructed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to halt operations for 36 hours so citizens in Ukraine — including separatist enclaves now annexed by Russia — can observe the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday this weekend. If implemented, it would mark the first cease-fire...