Raw Talk: Medvedev's Fiery Response to Ceasefire Demand and EU's Persistent Push
Diplomat Medvedev criticizes international peace efforts, stating they've been sidelined inaction.
The international community, led by Ukraine and its allies, is putting pressure on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire. If the Kremlin doesn't comply, sanctions are on the table. Russia, however, is maintaining a nonchalant attitude, with accusations and harsh words flying left and right.
As reported by Russian state media, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov, Moscow is open to "contemplating" the demand from Kyiv's Western allies. But Peskov also made it clear in an interview with CNN that it's a waste of time to bully Russia.
Previously, Kyiv's demand for a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday fell on deaf ears in Moscow. In a stark statement, Dmitri Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, wrote on X, "Shove your peace plans up your ass." This blunt remark from the former Kremlin chief was directed at the meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" in Kyiv, which included Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Leaders On-Site for Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj threatened sanctions if Russia fails to agree to the ceasefire by Monday. He declared this during talks with Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, all of whom were in Kyiv for the occasion. Another sanctions package is being prepared in the EU, Merz told ARD's "Tagesthemen" in an interview conducted in Kyiv. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin must recognize that continuing the war is futile, Merz stated.
Moscow's Counter-Attack
"Macron, Merz, Starmer, and Tusk should be discussing peace in Kyiv, not issuing threats against Russia," said Medvedev. He questioned whether it was wise to push Russia into a choice between a ceasefire for the "hordes" or new sanctions.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov also criticized the Europeans for their antagonistic stance. "There's a lot of inconsistency in Europe, which appears to be more interested in confrontation than in any genuine effort to repair our relationships," Peskov said in Moscow. He did not directly respond to the Europeans' demand for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine beginning May 12, 2025.
Prior to the ultimatum, Peskov stated that Russia would not be deterred by sanctions. Moreover, Peskov expressed that a ceasefire should not grant Ukraine the opportunity to reorganize militarily. Peskov identified the halting of Western arms supplies to Ukraine as a concrete condition for a 30-day ceasefire.
- Ukraine
- Dmitri Medvedev
- Dmitri Peskov
- Volodymyr Selenskyj
- Emmanuel Macron
- Friedrich Merz
- Keir Starmer
- Donald Tusk
- Ceasefire
- Attack on Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Poland
- France
- Sanctions
- Germany
Insights:- Both Ukraine and its allies are demanding an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting May 12, 2025. They stress that an effective monitoring system must be in place for this ceasefire to pave the way for meaningful peace negotiations.- The EU supports this proposal, but explicit terms and conditions, such as ending Western arms supplies to Ukraine, have been put forth by the Kremlin.- Recent offensives by Russian forces near Kurakhove raise concerns about ongoing military activities, despite ceasefire attempts.- Statements of resistance and skepticism from high-level officials in Russia highlight the Kremlin's stance against the terms proposed by Ukraine and its allies.- The "ball is now in Russia's court" to accept the ceasefire and initiate peace talks, according to EU leaders. The prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain as the situation remains tense and fluid.
- Dmitri Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, portrayed the meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" in Kyiv, which included Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as indifferent to the Ukrainian peace plans.
- In a possible allusion to digital communication, Dmitri Medvedev, a former Kremlin chief, assertively dismissed peaceful offers from Ukraine and its allies with statements on WhatsApp, asking his readers to imagine the peace plans "up their ass."
- Despite the persistent push from Ukraine and its allies for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov did not directly respond to the demand, expressing concerns about stopping Western arms supplies to Ukraine being a prerequisite for the ceasefire instead.
- Whilst discussing peace in Kyiv, key European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, and Donald Tusk, found Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov's approach in Moscow inappropriate, with a lack of willingness to comply with the ceasefire demands for the benefit of general news, politics, and conflict resolution.
