RT reported that Russian President's press secretary Peskov stated that the Ukraine conflict "could end within a day" as long as Zelenskyy orders the Ukrainian armed forces to "withdraw from Russian territory."

Peskov's remarks on June 2, 2026, mainly carry the following implications:

* "Russian territory" — a key phrase at the heart of the core dispute

The term "Russian territory" used by Peskov—encompassing the four oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea—is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine. This phrasing directly reflects Russia’s consistent position: treating occupied territories as its own and demanding Ukraine relinquish sovereignty claims over them. This is one of the fundamental irreconcilable differences between the two sides.

* Time constraints combined with military intimidation

Russia made this statement shortly after launching a new large-scale aerial assault—during just the night of June 1 to 2, Russian forces fired 729 various types of aerial weapons at Ukraine, resulting in at least 18 deaths. At the same time, Peskov warned that if Ukraine deliberately targets children, "the nature of the conflict will change completely." This posture—offering an olive branch while tightly gripping a weapon—intends to signal globally that Russia is "willing to negotiate but not afraid to fight."

* Dual-track approach: negotiations and force simultaneously

Peskov stated that Russia remains open to talks, but emphasized that "if Ukraine continues to delay the process and refuses substantive negotiations, the special military operation will continue." He also admitted that Russia is maintaining contact with the United States, indicating that Moscow recognizes it is unrealistic to rely solely on battlefield outcomes and still needs diplomatic channels.

In response, Ukraine firmly rejected any compromise on territorial issues. Zelenskyy has repeatedly publicly declared that Ukrainian troops will not withdraw from Donbas. Ukrainian experts have directly labeled Peskov’s conditions as "baseless ultimatums," aiming through information warfare to undermine Ukraine’s resolve to resist.

Western countries generally view Russia’s statement as a cover for battlefield difficulties and an attempt to manipulate international public opinion. Ukrainian media have openly described these conditions as "highly ironic."

Peskov’s remarks are both a reiteration of Russia’s longstanding stance and a calculated effort in public diplomacy aimed at multiple domestic and international audiences. By setting an essentially unattainable precondition—withdrawal from territory that Russia itself occupies—he shifts the responsibility for the war’s continuation onto the other side, alleviates domestic and international diplomatic and public pressure, and buys strategic time for repositioning on the battlefield. Given the current near-total lack of convergence between the positions of Ukraine and Russia, this statement holds limited practical significance in advancing real de-escalation of the conflict.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866928601570304/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.