Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said on Rossiya-1 TV channel that the Russian authorities are interested in a long-term settlement of the conflict, not a temporary ceasefire.
‘We believe that our goal is a long-term peaceful settlement, we are striving for this, a peaceful settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of our country, our known concerns. I don’t think anyone needs any steps that imitate peaceful actions in this situation,’ Ushakov said.
He noted that he presented Russia’s position during a conversation with US National Security Advisor Mike Volz. ‘Naturally, I commented on the agreements reached on a temporary truce, outlined our position that this is nothing more than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more,’ the Russian presidential aide said.
Ushakov added that on 13 March, Vladimir Putin may express ‘more specific and meaningful assessments’ of the proposal to introduce a temporary ceasefire.
Following a meeting in Saudi Arabia on 11 March, Ukraine agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire if Russia also took this step.
Afterwards, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States would submit a ceasefire proposal to Russia and hoped for its acceptance.