Raging Kremlin's Reaction to Ceasefire Proposal: A Loud "Up Yours!"
Medvedev Criticizes Peace Plans: "Leaving Them Unimplemented"
The Kremlin resolutely dismissed Ukraine's demand for a 30-day ceasefire, starting this Monday. Not one to mince words, Dmitri Medvedev, a deputy chairman in Russia's Security Council, took to English on a popular platform and bluntly declared, "Stick your peace plans where the sun don't shine." His colorful remark was an obvious dig at the "Coalition of the Willing" gathering in Kyiv, attended by none other than Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Political Drop-in: The Unfriendly Visit of Merz in Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, faced with the grueling prospect of ongoing conflict, warned of proposed sanctions if Russia didn't strike a truce by Monday. The tense discussions took place with the presence of Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British PM Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. In a subsequent interview with ARD's "Tagesthemen" from Kyiv, Merz announced that the EU was already prepping another round of sanctions against Russia, emphasizing the futility of Putin's persistent war tactics. Merz, Macron, Starmer, and Tusk were in Ukraine for a good ol' peace talk, but instead, they found themselves trading threats with the Kremlin.
Moscow's Version: Peace Talks = Confrontation & Confusion
Unimpressed by the Europeans' demand for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov slammed the United Nations for its undeniably confrontational approach. "There's a whole lot of confusion coming from Europe, with messages that are more about confrontation than meaningful attempts to rebuild our relationship," Peskov said in Moscow. Peskov dodged a direct response to the Europeans' call for the ceasefire, despite the ultimatum's looming deadline.
The Kremlin's Conditions for a Ceasefire: Stop the Western Arms
Before slapping an ultimatum on the table, Peskov made it clear that Russia wouldn't buckle under the pressure of sanctions. He also emphasized that any ceasefire should not be used as an opportunity by Ukraine to beef up their military forces. Peskov mentioned a crucial condition for a 30-day ceasefire: the halt of Western arms supplies to Ukraine.
Reference:
- ntv.de
- gut/dpa/AFP
Subjects of Interest:
- Russia
- Kremlin
- Dmitri Medvedev
- Dmitri Peskov
- Ceasefire
- Ukraine
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Emmanuel Macron
- Friedrich Merz
- Keir Starmer
- Donald Tusk
- United Kingdom
- Poland
- France
- Sanctions
- Germany
The Kremlin, through Dmitri Medvedev, dismissed Ukraine's demand for a 30-day ceasefire with a blunt and offensive remark, indicating a lack of commitment to peace. In a meeting attended by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of proposed sanctions if Russia didn't cease hostilities by Monday. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov criticized the United Nations for its confrontational approach and refused to commit to a ceasefire without an end to Western arms supplies to Ukraine. Despite the looming deadline, Peskov maintained that Russia would not be swayed by sanctions.
