Russia says Western arms flows to Ukraine need to stop during any ceasefire
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The comments by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov underlined Russia’s unchanging position on a ceasefire since mid-March.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
MOSCOW - Russia would require a halt to US and European arms supplies to Ukraine during any potential ceasefire, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with ABC News.
“Otherwise, it will be an advantage for Ukraine. Ukraine will continue its total mobilisation, bringing new troops to (the) front line,” Mr Peskov said.
“Ukraine will use this period to train new military personnel and to give a rest to its existing ones. So why should we grant such an advantage to Ukraine?”
US President Donald Trump urged Russia and Ukraine on May 9 to end the war, as he pushed for a 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine says it is willing to agree to.
But Mr Peskov, in the interview, restated Russian concerns that President Vladimir Putin had made public as far back as March 13 and set out in a phone call with Mr 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 said.
“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?”
His comments underlined the lack of any shift in Russia’s position on a ceasefire since mid-March.
During that time, Mr Trump – who previously had applied intense pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – has shown growing impatience with Russia
Mr Peskov denied that was the case, and said it was Ukraine that was refusing to enter direct negotiations.
“President Putin is doing whatever is possible to solve the problem, to achieve a settlement through peaceful and diplomatic means.
“But having no peaceful and diplomatic means at hand, we have to continue the military operation,” he said.
Russia hoped that mediation by Mr Trump would help to bring “a little bit more flexibility, a little bit more political will and wisdom to the Kyiv regime”, Mr Peskov said.
Mr Putin declared a brief Easter ceasefire in April, which both sides accused each other of violating countless times, and another three-day pause this week as Russia marks the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II
Ukraine did not agree to the latest truce, saying it wanted a halt of 30 days or more. REUTERS
