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Russia’s position suggests that symbolism alone will not be enough to halt the fighting.
Ukrainian officials have proposed a Christmas Truce on the battlefield, but Russian officials said on Tuesday that the feasibility of a such a truce would depend on whether Moscow and Kyiv can reach a wider agreement.
According to Reuters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov framed the issue as part of a larger diplomatic calculation rather than a standalone humanitarian step.
Asked about Ukraine’s proposal, Peskov said: “The question now is whether we, as President (Donald) Trump says, will reach a deal or not.”
No temporary fixes
He warned that Russia would not accept what he described as temporary fixes.
“We want peace. We don’t want a truce to give Ukraine a breathing space and prepare for a continuation of the war,” Peskov told reporters, adding:
“We want to stop this war, achieve our goals, secure our interests, and guarantee peace in Europe for the future. That’s what we want.”
Calls for restraint
The ceasefire proposal gained momentum after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Moscow to halt hostilities over Christmas, presenting the move as a possible first step toward a permanent ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy publicly supported the initiative, focusing in particular on limiting attacks on energy infrastructure during the holiday period.
“The United States supports this idea, and I, as President of Ukraine, certainly support it as well. I believe that an energy ceasefire is reasonable — any ceasefire,” Zelenskiy said according to RBC-Ukraine.
Moscow’s response
Peskov later dismissed the proposal in comments to Russian media, reiterating that Moscow’s stance was unchanged and linking any progress to signals from Washington.
“Russia’s position on this issue is well known, consistent, transparent, and understandable to both the American side and the Ukrainian side,” he said according to United24 Media.
Peskov also said the Kremlin had yet to see concrete details of proposed NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine that U.S. and European officials have discussed.
Sources: Reuters, RBC-Ukraine, United24 Media
