The Kremlin said on Monday that it had rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal for a 60-day ceasefire to allow his country to hold presidential elections, insisting that it wanted a comprehensive peace agreement instead.
“Please tell Putin to give us two months, 60 days of a complete ceasefire, 60 days and we will hold elections,” Zelensky said on Sunday during an appearance on ABC’s This Week.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Russia wanted a long-term peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire.
“At the Kremlin, President Putin and officials at other levels have repeatedly stated that we do not want a ceasefire,” Peskov said. “We want long-term peace, and we are ready to do everything possible to achieve it.”
Russia has long pressed Ukraine to hold elections, arguing that Zelensky’s failure to do so makes him an illegitimate leader. Elections during wartime are prohibited under Ukrainian law.
“The president has already spoken about this, but in this case, I can say with full responsibility on his behalf that, if Kyiv genuinely wishes to hold elections, then the Russian president, as commander-in-chief, would be prepared to order the military not to launch attacks against Ukraine on election day. Specifically, on election day. This is a very important clarification,” Peskov stressed.
The Kremlin also said that discussions were continuing over a possible energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, which had been announced by US President Donald Trump.
Peskov declined to comment on whether any such ceasefire would apply only to oil refineries, adding that further details would be announced in due course.
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