Dmitry Peskov Photo: Evgenia Novozhenina / Reuters
On Friday, 13 December, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is not seeking a truce, but a “full-fledged peace” that is possible only if Moscow’s demands are met.
“A truce in itself is not what we want. We need a peace that will come after all our conditions are met and our goals are achieved,” Peskov said during the briefing.
This statement was made in response to a question from journalists about the possibility of deploying European peacekeeping contingents to Ukraine to monitor compliance with a potential ceasefire.
“All of this can be discussed during the negotiations, but it is too early to get ahead of ourselves,” Peskov added.
Russia’s terms of peace
The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that it is ready for talks, but only on its own terms. Peskov called the “Istanbul agreements” the basis for such talks, a negotiation format that ended inconclusively in March 2022.
According to the spokesperson, it is the Ukrainian side that rejects these agreements.
“We are ready for discussions on the basis of those agreements, but Kyiv rules out this possibility,” Peskov said.
A hint of European involvement in the conflict
Notably, this is the first time the Kremlin has acknowledged the possibility of European troops being deployed to Ukraine. Although Peskov called for no rush to such scenarios, the mere fact that he mentioned the possibility of a European contingent may indicate a change in Moscow’s rhetoric.
Ukrainian experts see this statement as evidence of growing international pressure on the Kremlin and its search for ways to influence the West through the issue of peacekeepers.
The Kremlin’s cynical stance on the negotiations reinforces its longstanding strategy of dragging out the conflict and insisting on maximalist demands. While Russia continues to attack Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, statements about “peace on its own terms” look like an attempt to justify aggression to the international community.
Meanwhile, Ukraine clearly states that the only basis for peace can be international security guarantees, restoration of territorial integrity and Russia’s responsibility for its crimes against the Ukrainian people.
