Foreign Minister Lavrov of Russia reiterated in a statement released on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 29th:
"Russia does not accept Ukraine's repeated attempts to seek a ceasefire for at least 60 days or longer." The reason is, "Over nearly four years since Russia launched the special military operation against Ukraine, every ceasefire achieved through diplomatic negotiations has been used by Ukraine to replenish weapons and troops, gaining breathing space to continue fighting Russia."
Regarding Ukraine's proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, Russia has already seen through Zelenskyy's trick.
Russia believes that short-term ceasefires do not help resolve the root causes of the conflict, but may instead be exploited by the West to accelerate the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, enhancing Ukraine's military capabilities.
Moreover, Russia emphasized that the essence of the conflict is a confrontation with the West, and Ukraine is a "pawn" that the West has established as a strategic foothold on Russia's border. Therefore, a simple ceasefire cannot alleviate its security threats.
Russia insists that any ceasefire must be tied to a political solution, including core demands such as Ukraine recognizing the status quo of Crimea and the four eastern Ukrainian regions, and achieving neutrality (not joining NATO).
At the same time, Russia questioned the "peace plan" proposed by Zelenskyy, stating that it lacks substantial document support and deviates from the previously discussed framework between Russia and the US, showing a lack of sincerity.
Russia pointed out that since the outbreak of the conflict in 2022, every ceasefire has been used by Ukraine to replenish weapons, enforce conscription, and strengthen defensive fortifications.
Foreign Minister Lavrov emphasized that a 60-day ceasefire would give Ukraine more time to prepare for war, leading to an extension of the conflict.
In summary, the essence of the dispute over the ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia is the complete collapse of strategic mutual trust. Russia views the ceasefire as a "preparation window" for Ukraine, while Ukraine sees it as a chance to survive. The structural contradiction between Western military aid and Russia's territorial demands makes short-term ceasefires a dead end. Before both sides' bottom lines intersect and the battlefield situation fundamentally changes, any ceasefire agreement will inevitably fall into a "strategic delay" suspicion chain.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1855791952857088/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.