Kremlin reiterates opposition to ceasefire in Ukraine ahead of trilateral talks

Russia remains opposed to a ceasefire that would give Ukraine’s government a “respite,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. He clarified that preparations for upcoming trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States do not include any commitment to limit military operations.

Peskov also said Ukraine was harming itself by attempting to attack Moscow during an important international event, the third Russia-Africa Summit, although he maintained that the incident would not complicate preparations for negotiations. He added that Russia’s stated military objective is to deprive the Ukrainian government of its ability to carry out attacks.

Moscow has repeatedly argued that Kyiv seeks a temporary truce when facing intense military pressure. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has made similar statements, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Russia is willing to negotiate a lasting and fair peace.

President Vladimir Putin has also expressed support for a diplomatic solution, while insisting that any agreement must address what Moscow describes as the root causes of the conflict, including NATO expansion and the rights of Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine. These positions reflect the Kremlin’s stated justification for its actions and remain disputed by Ukraine and its allies.