Kremlin rejects Zelenskyy's proposal for 30-day ceasefire, calls for shorter truce

The Kremlin has responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, expressing its preference for a much shorter truce.

Russian officials are calling for a three-day ceasefire, specifically around May 9, and have demanded a response from Kyiv, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed the issue, emphasizing that Moscow is not willing to agree to a prolonged ceasefire without resolving key details.

“We have seen the proposal, but if we are talking about such a long-term ceasefire, the nuances President Putin discussed in the Kremlin are crucial,” Peskov stated.

“Without answers to these important questions, it is difficult to move forward with such an extended ceasefire,” the spokesman added.

Peskov also criticized Kyiv’s refusal to directly respond to Russia’s call for a three-day ceasefire, describing it as a form of manipulation. According to the Kremlin spokesperson, Moscow’s proposed truce is a reasonable and measured request, which should be addressed without delay.

Ahead of the announcement, Moscow declared that, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet-German War, the Russian military would unilaterally cease fire from midnight on May 7 to May 8, continuing until midnight on May 10 to May 11. However, the Russian forces reserved the right to deliver an "adequate response" should the Ukrainian Armed Forces violate the ceasefire. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the announcement as a "manifestation of goodwill" by President Vladimir Putin, who had previously stated his willingness to pursue peace with Ukraine without "preconditions."

In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha suggested that Moscow should not wait until May 8 and should immediately implement the ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called for a ceasefire, but with a much broader scope. He demanded an “immediate, complete, and unconditional” truce for at least 30 days, labeling Putin’s proposed post-Easter ceasefire as "another manipulation" intended to "kill again" once the truce expired.

Despite Ukraine’s response, Peskov remarked that the Kremlin had “not heard any reaction” to Russia’s proposal for a temporary ceasefire on May 9. "It is still very difficult to understand whether the Kyiv regime is going to join or not," he said. Peskov further emphasized that Russia remains committed to "bringing the Ukrainian conflict into the mainstream of a peaceful settlement."

By Vafa Guliyeva