Russia is seeking a long-term peaceful settlement in Ukraine that takes Moscow‘s interests and concerns into account, Putin‘s adviser Yuri Ushakov said today (Thursday), revealing the mood with which the Russians will welcome American negotiators to Moscow in the coming hours.

“Our goal is, ultimately, a long-term peaceful settlement, we are working for it. A peaceful settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of our country, our well-known concerns,” Ushakov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel, commenting on the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.

As Ushakov said, this is exactly the position Vladimir Putin is likely to express later today after his meeting with Lukashenko in Moscow. “The presidents (of Russia and Belarus) will speak, answering questions at a press conference today. President Putin is likely to express more specific and substantial assessments,” the Russian president’s adviser said.

On his first reaction when he heard about the plan for a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, in a phone call with Donald Trump‘s National Security Adviser Mike Walch, he stressed that such a development is favorable for the Ukrainian military.

“I, of course, commented on the agreement reached on a temporary ceasefire and stated our position that this is nothing more than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more,” Usakov said.

It should be noted that during a meeting with Russia’s permanent members of the Security Council in January, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the goal of a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine should not be a short-term ceasefire and a pause for the regrouping of forces and rearmament with a view to continuing the conflict thereafter, but a long-term peace. According to him, the Russian authorities will continue to fight for the interests of the Russian people, that is the meaning of the special operation. Peace in Ukraine, Putin noted, should be based on “respect for the legitimate interests of all people, all nations living in this region.”