A senior Kremlin official has dismissed the proposal for a temporary ceasefire put forward by the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, asserting that Russia is only interested in a long-term resolution to the Ukraine conflict, according to Russian media reports.
Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, spoke in an interview with the Russia-1 TV channel, emphasizing Moscow's stance.
"Our objective is a long-term peaceful settlement. We are striving for a resolution that takes into account our country’s legitimate interests and well-known concerns," Ushakov stated, as reported by Interfax. "In this situation, steps that merely imitate peaceful actions are unnecessary."
At the conclusion of the interview, Ushakov clarified that he was expressing his "personal position."
The U.S. and Ukraine recently reached an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire plan during negotiations in Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration is now presenting this proposal to Russian officials in an effort to broker peace.
President Trump has expressed his desire for a swift resolution to the conflict, condemning the destruction, loss of life, and financial burden on American taxpayers due to U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Ushakov disclosed that he had communicated Russia’s position to U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, stating that Moscow views a temporary ceasefire as "nothing more than a brief reprieve for the Ukrainian military, nothing beyond that."
The Kremlin aide, who specializes in foreign affairs, indicated that President Putin might provide "more specific and substantive assessments" regarding the ceasefire proposal later today, according to a report from Meduza.
Putin is scheduled to meet with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow on Thursday to discuss the ceasefire proposal.
Earlier in the day, Russia’s defense ministry announced that its forces had successfully recaptured Sudzha, the largest town in the Kursk region, from Ukrainian control after several months of fighting.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump stated, "It's up to Russia now," as his administration continues to urge Moscow to accept the ceasefire. He added that if Russia agrees, "I think that would be 80 percent of the way to ending this horrible bloodbath."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X: "We must move toward peace, toward security guarantees, and we need to free our people. We are determined to work as quickly as possible with our partners. The key factor is our partners' ability to ensure Russia’s readiness not to deceive but to genuinely end the war. Because right now, Russian strikes have not stopped."
Further details are expected to emerge from the meeting between Putin and Witkoff, shedding light on Russia’s stance, any willingness to accept the ceasefire plan, and potential conditions Moscow may impose before agreeing to it.
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