Russia ties ceasefire to halting US, EU arms to Ukraine
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said any ceasefire in Ukraine must include a halt to US and European arms shipments, reaffirming Russia’s position while commenting on Donald Trump’s mediation push.
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, left, speaks with journalists prior to a signing ceremony after a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
During any potential ceasefire, Russia would demand that the US and European arms supplies to Ukraine be stopped, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with ABC News.
"Otherwise it will be an advantage for Ukraine. Ukraine will continue their total mobilisation, bringing new troops to (the) frontline," Peskov stated on Saturday, noting that Kiev would use the chance to continue its "total mobilization" and flood the frontlines with new troops.
US President Donald Trump urged Russia and Ukraine on Friday to "get this stupid war finished" while pushing for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine expressed willingness to agree to, but Peskov, in the interview, restated Russian concerns that Putin had made public as far back as March 13 and reiterated during a phone call with Trump on March 18.
"A ceasefire was supported by President Putin, but he asked several questions. He said that right now we have certain dynamics on the front, Russian troops are advancing, and advancing in quite a confident way," he emphasized.
"So if we speak about ceasefire, what are we going to do with shipments of weapons coming every day from the United States and from European countries?" Peskov added.
ABC News claimed that Peskov's remarks highlighted Russia's unchanged stance on a ceasefire since March, noting that while Trump had once pressured Ukraine's Zelensky, he has recently grown increasingly impatient with Moscow, even questioning whether Putin was misleading him.
Peskov rejected the suggestion that Russia was stalling, asserting instead that Ukraine was the party unwilling to engage in direct talks, and emphasized that Putin was making every effort to resolve the conflict through diplomatic channels, though he added that without peaceful options available, Moscow had no choice but to proceed with its military operation.
Peskov stated that Russia believed Trump's mediation could encourage greater flexibility, political will, and wisdom from leadership.
Trump impatiently urges 30-day ceasefire
On May 9, US President Donald Trump called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, expressing his willingness to back diplomatic peace initiatives, which he announced in a Truth Social post while noting continued US engagement with both warring parties.
"Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue. The US calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions," Trump stated.
Trump stressed the need for accountability and global collaboration while threatening new sanctions against both Russia and Ukraine if they failed to uphold the ceasefire, and he reiterated his dedication to coordinating with European partners to promote peace and diplomatic solutions in the region.
