The Russian Federation does not consider the possibility of halting hostilities in Ukraine at this stage. This is evidenced by the statement of the press secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, who commented on the initiative of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding a referendum on territorial decisions.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Kremlin’s Position on Ceasefire
“If it is about creating a pretext for a demand for a ceasefire, a respite, a pause on the front, then that will not work,” Peskov said in an interview with Channel One.
The spokesman for Putin added that he sees any potential ceasefire as merely an attempt to gain a “temporary respite,” which, in the Kremlin’s view, is a manipulation and a delay tactic. According to him, Russia insists on the need for a “long-term and guaranteed peace,” rather than short-term agreements.
Ukrainian Initiative and the Role of International Mediators
Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the day before during a conversation with journalists that the issue of possible territorial decisions should be made by the Ukrainian people. He noted: in the format of elections or in the format of a referendum, citizens can express their opinions on the future of the territories.
The President also stressed that during negotiations involving the United States, significant discrepancies remain between the parties regarding the future of Donbas and the territories. Zelensky stated that there are different visions in the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, and so far, there is no unified position on the status of the region.
In recent weeks, the United States has resumed efforts to facilitate a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. Following the negotiations, a document was prepared that aligns more with Ukraine’s interests but contains several contentious points, particularly regarding territorial issues and security guarantees.
According to Volodymyr Zelensky, the U.S. believes that a complete ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia is only possible after the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement. The American side is convinced that Russia will not agree to a ceasefire without documented confirmation of the agreements, while Kyiv insists that the priority is a ceasefire.
It remains unknown whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to agree to a ceasefire deal. After recent negotiations with representatives of Donald Trump in Moscow, the Kremlin acknowledged that some of the proposals are acceptable, but some were rejected.