A Different Spin: Where's the Truce? Kremlin: No Ceasefire Unless We Stop Getting Armed!
Cessation of hostilities contingent upon halting of weapon shipments, as articulated by the Kremlin.
Russia has put a condition on the table for a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukraine war - they want a halt to weapon deliveries from the US and EU. Dmitri Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, stated to ABC that if the deliveries continue, Ukraine will gain an advantage, which they'd rather avoid. He argues that Ukraine would use the pause in fighting to mobilize additional troops, train new personnel, and give existing fighters a breather.
In apparent reluctance to take a break, Peskov hinted at Russia's own progress in the offensive and its command over the initiative. Moreover, he expressed optimism about President Trump's continued influence on Ukraine, hoping that he'd lend a hand to Russia in pressuring Kiev into negotiations. Both sides keep trading accusations, with each claiming the other avoids genuine peace talks. Zelensky, Ukraine's president, regularly pleads for the 30-day truce that Trump has proposed, aiming to open dialogue for resolving the conflict.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports Zelensky's stance, declaring, "The ball's in Moscow's court now." Leaders from Germany, France, Poland, and the UK back the ceasefire and are willing to aid peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Russia is now being asked to agree to a more extended truce, allowing for a genuine peace treaty.
The EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, endorses the US call for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire to pave the way for peace negotiations. The EU stands ready to exert "strong pressure" on Russia, with further sanctions looming if there's a ceasefire breach. The goal is a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, deemed crucial for security and stability across the continent.
- Ceasefire Demand
- Moscow's Holdout
- Ukrainian Advantage at Stake
- Russia's Progress on the Battlefield
- U.S. Influence on Ukraine and Russia
Insight:
Russia's demands go beyond mere peace talks - they want to curtail Western military aid, perceiving it as a direct threat to their strategic goals. The supply of advanced weapons from the US and EU empowers Ukraine to counter Russian advances and sustain its defense efforts. Russia's insistence on ending arms shipments aims to weaken Ukraine's military capacity, potentially forcing Kyiv to negotiate on Moscow's terms.
- The European Parliament has also expressed its concern at the recent events in Kiev and the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the country, given Russia's demand for a ceasefire contingent on halting weapon deliveries from the US and EU.
- Dmitri Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, has told ABC that if arms deliveries continue, Ukraine would gain an advantage against Russia, and the ceasefire would be uneventful as Ukraine would use it to mobilize additional troops, train new personnel, and regroup its forces.
- Despite Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz declaring, "The ball's in Moscow's court now," and the EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, endorsing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, Russia seems reluctant to come to the negotiating table without its conditions met, putting the ceasefire, and a lasting peace, at stake.
- Amidst the trade of accusations, Whatsapp messages between diplomats might provide crucial insights into the politics behind the war, as each side claims the other avoids genuine peace talks and seeks to exploit the truce for their own advantage.
