Photo: Collected
Russia has turned down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, saying it has no interest in a temporary truce and instead wants to end the fighting through a long-term peace agreement.
The Kremlin also declined to comment directly on the ‘energy ceasefire’ between Russia and Ukraine announced by US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow has no interest in a temporary ceasefire; its goal is lasting peace. He also said Russia is ready to do whatever is needed to achieve that goal.
‘Officials at various levels in the Kremlin, including President Putin, have repeatedly said that we do not want a ceasefire. We want long-term peace and are ready to do everything possible to achieve it,’ Peskov said.
Zelensky made the 60-day ceasefire proposal on Sunday. Its aim was to pave the way for holding a presidential election in the country while the fighting continues. But with Moscow rejecting the proposal, this attempt to halt the conflict for a while is now in doubt.
Ceasefire hit by crisis of trust
Kyiv has long alleged that the two countries had reached understandings on temporary ceasefires before, but Russia broke them. This is why concerns persist on the Ukrainian side over any new ceasefire initiative.
Moscow, however, sees it differently. In its view, what is needed now is not a temporary ceasefire but a long-term peace settlement that can stop the conflict for good. Peskov, though, gave no details on the terms of such an agreement.
Kremlin silent on energy ceasefire
Peskov was also asked about the ‘energy ceasefire’ between Russia and Ukraine announced by Trump. But he declined to say anything in detail on the matter.
Talks on such a ceasefire are gaining importance amid efforts to halt attacks on energy facilities and related infrastructure. But as the Kremlin’s position on Trump’s announcement remains unclear, uncertainty persists over how the initiative will be implemented and how broad its scope will be.
By rejecting the temporary ceasefire proposal on the one hand and declining to comment on the energy ceasefire on the other, Moscow has once again made clear its position of prioritising a long-term peace settlement. However, it remains unclear whether any new agreement to end the fighting between the two countries will materialise at all. Source: The Guardian
