The Kremlin has made it clear that peace in Ukraine will not be reached as quickly as the United States would like. Chief Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would be willing to discuss a ceasefire of 60 or 90 days. He acknowledged that the sheer scope and scale of the conflicts’ nuances make it difficult to expect rapid strides toward a resolution. He could not overstate Russia’s disposition to achieve its goals, by diplomatic means if possible, and by whatever means necessary if not.
Peskov further explained that the underlying issues behind this complicated conflict are not readily addressable in a snap. Perhaps more importantly, he highlighted that it is Russia’s “sacred duty” to achieve victory in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say they’re open to negotiations. They’ll only get very far if, as a first step, Russia agrees to an unconditional ceasefire.
Ceasefire Proposal and Diplomatic Efforts
In a couple of recent remarks, Peskov reiterated the point that Moscow very much prefers to accomplish its goals through diplomatic negotiations. He restated that the Kremlin should first prove its real intention to move down a difficult road toward peace.
“And it is our duty to be victorious.” – Dmitry Peskov
Ukrainian officials have echoed these sentiments. Andrii Sybiha, an advisor in Kyiv, stated that if Russia is indeed prepared for a ceasefire of 60 or 90 days, Ukraine would reciprocate. He called on Moscow to do more than just discuss peace. He went on to call for specific action, such as committing to a long-term ceasefire.
“Russia can demonstrate its genuine readiness for peace talks by agreeing to a real ceasefire for at least 30 days.” – Andrii Sybiha
Ongoing Military Actions
While these diplomatic overtures are promising, military activities proceed unchecked. To put the scale in context, on Tuesday night, Russia launched the widest drone attack to date with 108 drones attacking regions across Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense managed to intercept about 50 of these drones. At the same time, 22 others disappeared from radar before they were ever able to arrive at their intended destinations.
Dnipro and Kharkiv quickly became the main targets of this attack, highlighting just how much the situation remains in flux. In reaction to these developments, Ukraine’s SBU security agency acted. They took credit for the first-ever drone strike on a defense manufacturing facility well inside Russia’s borders.
Additionally, Russia’s defense ministry announced that its forces had gained control over the village of Nove in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. This overtly military progression is indicative of the deepening direct military hostilities between the two countries.
Calls for Action and Resolving Conflict
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for Russia to lead with the first move toward peace. He insists that this is only real progress, contingent on their acceptance of an unconditional ceasefire. His administration is rightly focused on the need to set a strong baseline for negotiations.
“Russia must stop talking about its readiness for peace and start acting by agreeing unconditionally to a real and durable ceasefire.” – Andrii Sybiha
Peskov went on to say that the president would not rule out political and diplomatic approaches to ending this conflict. He cautioned that reaching a compromise will take a good deal of work from everyone involved. The Kremlin has made various signals that it wants a peace deal, but it needs to focus on its goals in Ukraine first.
