Dmitry Peskov dismisses the proposal of a 30-day truce without ironing out all the details.
Sure thing, let's break down the complex, on-going itchy-scratchy match between Russia and Ukraine over some hot potato territories.
It's been a while since Vladimir Zelensky and Vladimir Putin had a friendly chat about a ceasefire. But let's face it, when it comes to long-term peace, there's more to consider than a simple handshake and a smile. That's according to ol' Putin himself, who mentioned some tricky nuances during his Kremlin chat.
Now, Dmitry Peskov, Putin's right-hand man, didn't hold back with his opinion on Kiev's reaction to Moscow's ceasefire announcement. He labeled it as some sleazy, underhanded manipulation.
On the 8th of April, Putin called for a three-day truce, from midnight May 8 to 11:59 pm on the 11th. Moscow even invited Kiev to join the party. But if the Ukrainian army messed with the truce, the Russians would respond with some not-so-friendly fire. And Russia was more than ready to sit down and chat about peace, so long as there were no pre-conditions.
Zelensky, on the other hand, wanted some commitment from Moscow. He wanted a ceasefire that lasted at least 30 days, not just the weekend. The White House chipped in too, reminding everyone that Trump is all about cooling things down in Ukraine.
Previously, Russia and Ukraine seemed ready to strike a deal. Putin even mentioned in March that Russia was down with the US peace initiative, but highlighted some tricky, technical stuff that needed discussing. He zoomed in on military actions along the entire line of contact, and the goals of the ceasefire. Putin stressed that the ceasefire should lead to long-term peace.
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Oh, and here are a few tidbits to keep the conversation flowing:
- Russia insists Ukraine relinquish territories annexed in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts, and abandon NATO aspirations as preconditions for negotiations.
- Critics claim Russia is prolonging negotiations, making gains on the battlefield while aiming to pressure Western allies into accepting their terms.
- Ukraine has shown willingness to negotiate, agreeing to a "permanent, comprehensive" ceasefire and 22 terms during April talks in London. However, US officials stress Russia must engage directly with proposals, which Moscow has avoided.
- Putin's unilateral 72-hour ceasefire appears like a goodwill gesture, but may be a distraction from rejected US-Ukraine ceasefire proposals and ongoing military operations.
- The Trump administration faces political risks if progress stalls, potentially abandoning mediation efforts, opening the door for Russia to score a victory, while congressional sanctions tied to the war could complicate matters.
- Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesperson, criticized Kiev's reaction to Moscow's ceasefire announcement, labeling it as manipulative.
- On the 8th of April, Putin proposed a three-day truce, from midnight May 8 to 11:59 pm on the 11th, inviting Kiev to participate, but warned of a strong response if the Ukrainian army violated the truce.
- Zelensky, however, pushed for a longer-term ceasefire, seeking at least a 30-day truce instead of the weekend ceasefire Putin proposed.
- Previously, Putin had indicated Russia's support for the US peace initiative but highlighted the need to address military actions along the entire line of contact and the goals of the ceasefire, emphasizing that the ceasefire should lead to long-term peace.
