Kremlin Rejects Western Ceasefire Demands, Labels Them ‘Unacceptable Ultimatums’
The Kremlin has firmly rejected Western demands for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, calling them unacceptable and unlikely to influence Moscow’s position.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the West’s approach, saying, “This language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia. It doesn’t work. You can’t talk to Russia like that.”
Despite his strong words, Peskov emphasised that Moscow remains open to peace talks. He noted that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to resume negotiations in Istanbul without any preconditions—a process he claims Ukraine walked away from in 2022.
“President Putin clearly and unambiguously laid out our position. We are committed to seriously pursuing a long-term peaceful solution,” Peskov added.
On the same day, Germany issued a stern warning: Russia must agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire by the end of the day or face new EU sanctions. German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius made the announcement as European foreign ministers gathered in London to address the war, now in its fourth year.
“The Ukrainian president has made clear efforts toward peace, offering meaningful concessions in recent weeks. It’s now Russia’s responsibility to do the same and engage in genuine political talks,” Kornelius said.
The renewed push for a ceasefire comes after leaders from France, Germany, Poland, and the UK visited Kyiv over the weekend. Together, they urged Moscow to accept a temporary truce as a step toward broader peace efforts.
Responding on Sunday, President Putin proposed restarting direct talks in Istanbul on May 15. He indicated that a new ceasefire could emerge from the negotiations.
“We do not rule out the possibility of reaching a genuine truce—one that both sides will respect. This could be the beginning of a lasting peace, not just another pause before renewed fighting,” Putin said.
