The Kremlin rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal for a 60-day ceasefire to allow a presidential election to be held. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin was prepared to order a halt to strikes on Ukraine specifically on election day.
This was reported by the Russian state propaganda agency TASS.
According to Peskov, the 60-day ceasefire proposed by Zelenskyy is allegedly needed by Ukraine not to organise an election, but to “heal its wounds” and continue the war.
He also claimed that Russia is seeking not a temporary ceasefire but “long-term peace” and is ready to do “everything possible” to achieve it.
Peskov separately said Moscow views the efforts of US negotiators on Ukraine positively and is grateful to them for continuing those contacts.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, commenting on the idea of an “energy ceasefire”, said Russia does not intend to give Ukraine a “breather”. According to him, Zelenskyy is allegedly trying to use such initiatives to secure a pause in the fighting.
