Russia has declared that the conflict in Ukraine is 'too complicated' to end quickly, dashing hopes for a swift ceasefire or peace deal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that President Vladimir Putin supports the initiative for a lasting ceasefire but insisted that 'a whole series of questions need to be answered and a whole series of nuances need to be resolved' before any agreement can be reached.
Peskov claimed Putin has expressed willingness for direct talks with Ukraine, but said there has been no response from Kyiv. 'We understand that Washington is willing to achieve a quick success in this process... Unfortunately, we haven't heard any statements in this context from Kyiv. So we don't know whether Kyiv is ready or not,' he stated. His comments follow an interview in which US President Donald Trump said he 'wasn't happy' about continued Russian attacks on Ukraine, but also suggested that without him, Putin might 'take over the whole country'.
The Kremlin's stance comes after it rejected a US-proposed seven-point peace plan that would recognise Russian control over Crimea and freeze the frontline. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov further outlined strict conditions for any ceasefire, including the removal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, international recognition of Russian sovereignty over four annexed regions, and restrictions on Ukraine's military size. Lavrov also demanded legally binding commitments from Kyiv, lifting of sanctions, and return of frozen Russian assets.
Meanwhile, Putin's declaration of a three-day ceasefire from May 8-10 for Russia's Victory Day celebrations has been dismissed by Ukrainian officials as a 'trick'. Analysts note that Russia may seek to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks during the 80th anniversary parade. Hours after announcing the ceasefire, Russian forces launched a drone attack on Ukraine, killing a 12-year-old girl in Dnipropetrovsk and wounding several others in Kyiv.
