Russia Rejects 30-Day Truce Due to Threats of Sanctions
A vie of the Kremlin, Moscow, Russia. X/ @SputnikMundo
May 12, 2025 Hour: 11:45 am
Negotiations must first address the root causes of the conflict before any discussion of a cease-fire can take place.
On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia rejected a 30-day cease-fire proposal put forward by Ukraine and several European leaders, stating that threats of sanctions in the event of noncompliance are unacceptable.
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“Such ultimatum-like language is inadmissible. You cannot speak to Russia in that way. We are firmly committed to seriously pursuing a path toward a lasting peaceful settlement,” Peskov said, emphasizing that this is not the first time European countries have threatened Moscow with additional sanctions.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed holding direct negotiations with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul “without any preconditions.” Russia, which has repeatedly warned that any cease-fire would allow Kyiv time to rearm, views demands for an immediate cease-fire as a condition in themselves.
“This approach is aimed precisely at finding a real diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis, eliminating the root causes of the conflict, and establishing a strong and lasting peace,” Peskov stressed.
The Kremlin spokesman also noted that Putin’s peace initiative has been supported by “many world leaders,” including the presidents of China and Brazil, who took part in the May 9 celebrations in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.
Peskov also said U.S. President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and urged him to support the Russian proposal, after which Zelenskyy expressed willingness to travel to Istanbul. During the press conference, however, Peskov did not mention whether Putin would be part of the Russian delegation traveling to the Turkish city.
On Sunday, Putin did not explicitly reject the cease-fire, but he also did not support it, citing Ukraine’s past violations of cease-fire agreements, including during the energy truce, the Easter truce, and the most recent one proposed around Victory Day.
Instead, he dismissed the European “ultimatums” and proposed direct negotiations, while not ruling out the possibility of reaching a real cease-fire agreement in Istanbul “that would be backed not only by Russia but also by the Ukrainian side.”
“This would be the first step toward a firm and lasting peace — not the prologue to a continuation of the conflict following rearmament and a new mobilization of the Ukrainian army,” he said.
Also on Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stressed that “negotiations must first address the root causes of the conflict before any discussion of a cease-fire can take place.”
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
