Russia appears reluctant to endorse a 30-day truce, according to suggested hints from the Kremlin.
Rewritten Article:
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's mouthpiece for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has subtly hinted that Russia isn't ready to accept a 30-day truce, an idea Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had proposed earlier.
According to the Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS, Peskov expressed doubts about such a long-term ceasefire without addressing some key questions. He didn't specify what these questions were.
Peskov brought up the fact that Putin had announced a three-day truce for Victory Day, a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. However, he questioned whether the Ukrainian government would join in this truce or not.
In the past, Putin had also announced an Easter truce, promising a halt to all hostilities in Ukraine from the evening of 19 April until midnight on 20 April. Yet, Russia's Ministry of Defence stated that Russian forces would maintain the truce only if Ukraine did the same.
Ukrainian defenders on most fronts did not witness the "Easter truce" as promised by the Russians, according to data from DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts.
Background:
On 28 April, the Kremlin reported that Putin had unilaterally declared a "truce" for Victory Day. Moscow argued that Russia believes Ukraine should also declare a truce on the 80th anniversary of the Victory.
Earlier, Putin had already proposed an Easter truce, which was meant to mean a halt to all hostilities in Ukraine from the evening of 19 April until midnight on 20 April. However, Russia's Ministry of Defence stated that Russian forces would honor the truce only if Ukraine did the same.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would mirror any Russian ceasefire and extend it beyond 20 April if a complete silence of arms truly prevailed.
Enrichment Data:
The Kremlin has underscored several critical nuances in ceasefire discussions, focusing on procedural and substantive concerns:
Private negotiations: Russia insists that any substantive discussions about Ukraine's future must happen behind closed doors, dismissing media reports as unreliable. Dmitry Peskov emphasized that "public discussion of these issues is impossible" and that only privately negotiated plans can be viable[2].
Ceasefire conditions: While Putin expressed openness to a cessation of hostilities, Moscow demands it must result in "long-term peace" addressing root causes, such as NATO expansion and security guarantees. This aligns with Putin's earlier remarks that Western arms supplies to Kyiv and geopolitical tensions must be resolved as part of any lasting agreement[5].
Verification and implementation: Peskov highlighted logistical challenges, like defining when civilian infrastructure becomes a military target—a reference to disputes over sites like power plants or communication hubs potentially being used for military purposes[3]. Additionally, Russia insists on direct bilateral talks with Ukraine, rejecting proposals that exclude Moscow’s core interests or involve third-party intermediaries without agreed terms[4].
Trust in media narratives: The Kremlin consistently doubts publicized plans (e.g., Trump-era proposals) as unverified, arguing that "when such reports are factual—that seldom happens"[2]. This skepticism underscores Moscow's preference for closed diplomacy over media-driven speculation.
In summary, the "nuances" involve procedural secrecy, preconditions tied to geopolitical grievances, and operational clarity on ceasefire terms[3][4][5].
- Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal for a 30-day truce, Russian analysts suggest that the Russian government, as noted by Dmitry Peskov, is doubtful about a long-term ceasefire, citing unaddressed key questions.
- Analysts have pointed out that Russia's acceptance of a ceasefire in war-and-conflicts-related news, such as the Victory Day and Easter truces, would hinge on whether the Ukrainian government would join in the truce.
- In the past, general-news reports have indicated that Ukrainian defenders did not observe the "Easter truce" as promised by Russia, according to data from DeepState, a group of military analysts in Ukraine.
- According to enrichment data, the Kremlin has underscored several critical nuances in ceasefire discussions, focusing on procedural and substantive concerns, including private negotiations, ceasefire conditions, verification and implementation, and trust in media narratives.
- Analysts have noted that the Kremlin has stressed the importance of addressing root causes, like NATO expansion and security guarantees, for any lasting peace in Ukraine, as stated by Putin in his earlier remarks on the matter.
