Regarding Putin's "unilateral ceasefire":
Russia has always violated ceasefires, dozens of various ceasefires were agreed upon during the first eight years of war, most meant just less but never zero military activity, and many of them didn't hold even a day. Usually, Russia's "ceasefires" mean that Russia needs to regroup its troops, replenish the losses, and pull in supplies. Some Russian Telegram channels claimed that Putin was going to replace Russia's military leadership and the defense minister - if so, Russia needs a break for the new leadership to rethink their strategy. Chief Wagner clown Prigozhin failed to capture Bakhmut before the new year and whined that his cannon fodder lacks vehicles, etc. - the Bakhmut area is the only sector of the front where Russia continues relatively large-scale offensive operations.
Many Russian Telegram channels complained that there are large-scale artillery ammunition shortages. Ukraine continues its campaign to destroy the Russian rear troop accommodation facilities, often full of freshly mobilized soldiers (it's not only about Makiivka). Looks like Russia not only needs to deliver more ammunition to the front, but also start the second wave of mobilization, and take a break to come up with a new general strategy of what else they may try to do to achieve at least something.
They are desperate. There's the so-called "old New Year's Day" later on after the Orthodox X-mas, and later if they are lucky for some reason to have Ukraine lured into their "ceasefire", they can extend it on and on In previous years, such "holiday ceasefires" were meant to last indefinitely. Of course, the fact that Ukraine doesn't care about Russia's ceasefire ideas will be used for propaganda ("look, you see, we're peaceful, white, and fluffy, and Ukraine is an aggressor!") Even though no one but its regular consumers care about it.
https://twitter.com/loogunda/status/1611126263640477700