Cessation of hostilities contingent upon termination of weapons supplies.
Spinnin' the News:
Putin's Peculiar Peace Proposal: Ceasefire, But Only if the Ammo Keeps Away
Moscow's been shelling Ukraine for yonks, and now claims to crave peace. But, before the Old World's leaders set foot in Kyiv, the Kremlin lays down conditions for a truce - supposedly to prevent Kyiv from nabbin' an "advantage." Spokesman Peskov hints at another reason in an eyebrow-raising chat with ABC.
Russia demands a halt to the handshakin' of weapons to Kyiv by the US and EU as a first step for a 30-day truce in the Ukraine conflict. "Otherwise, Ukraine'll score a home-run," squeaks Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov. Ukraine'll likely use the truce to escalate its "full-scale mobilization," bring fresh recruits to the battlefield, train 'em up, and give the already deployed troops a breather, Peskov warns. "Why give Ukraine such an advantage?"
**Politics: "Voraceous Vampires," Says Peskov, of EU and US ** What Peskov forgets to mention: Russia could use the truce to recharge its troops and reinforce its rank and file. Indeed, Peskov alludes to another reason for the Kremlin's hardline stance - Russia's seemingly on a winning streak in Ukraine and has the upper hand, he admits.
The Kremlin spokesman also holds out hope that Trump will keep pesterin' Ukraine into negotiations and pressure Moscow on their behalf. He snaps at Ukraine for avoidin' the negotiatin' table. Both sides are guilty of accusin' each other of bein' unwilling to seek an end to hostilities. Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, nowadays pleads for the 30-day ceasefire Trump pushed as a prelude to settlin' the conflict.
Zele-n-all: "It's Moscow's Turn to Step Up and Play Ball"
Zelenskyy finds himself supported by the heads of state from Germany, France, Poland, and the UK, who are currently rootin' for Ukraine. They propose a 30-day truce and declare their readiness to jump-start peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow's now invited to agree to a longer truce that would pave the way for an honest-to-goodness peace treaty, mutters German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at a press conference in Brussels. "It's Moscow's turn to step up and play ball - no one else's game."
Politics: Merz Rips into Moscow: "Ya Think Ya Can Dance?" European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sides with Trump's call for an unconditional 30-day truce. The EU backs this move without any prepayments, aimin' to clear the path for peace talks. Now, it's Russia's turn to act. The EU's ready to slap hefty sanctions on Moscow and apply constant pressure if there's a truce violation, von der Leyen addin's. The aim's a "fair and lastin' peace for Ukraine" - an essential ingredient for the continent's security and stability.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently ordered a truce for Easter and the end of World War II's 80th anniversary. The current three-day truce expires tonight Moscow time (23:00 CEST). In the past two days, both warring parties have accused each other of violatin' the truce.
- Ukraine's Last Stand
- Putin's Power Play
- Conflict Chronicles
- War-mongerin' Washington and Eurotown
- War Crimes: The Hidden Truth
- The European Parliament has also expressed its concern at the recent events in Ukraine, following the European Commission President's call for an unconditional 30-day truce.
- The ceasefire in Ukraine, proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, is supposed to last until the end of World War II's 80th anniversary, but there have been allegations of violations by both warring parties.
- Dmitri Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, has hinted at a reason for Russia's hardline stance on Ukraine beyond preventing Kyiv from gaining an advantage, implying that Russia could use the truce to recharge its troops and reinforce its rank and file.
- In a politics-focused section, Peskov referred to the EU and US as "voracious vampires," suggesting a contentious relationship between Russia and the West in the context of the Ukraine conflict.
