Putin Claims Ukraine Seeks Ceasefire to Replenish Arms and Orchestrate Attacks

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed to dismiss the possibility of a complete ceasefire in Ukraine, stating that any lull in hostilities would allow Kyiv to regroup militarily.

Ukraine has been advocating for an immediate and unconditional 30-day truce, presenting its latest request to Moscow during peace discussions held in Istanbul on Monday.

“Why would we grant them a respite from combat, which they would exploit to bolster their forces with Western weaponry, continue forced mobilization, and prepare for various terrorist acts?” Putin remarked during a televised governmental meeting.

During the discussions on Monday, Russia laid out extensive conditions for a ceasefire, demanding that Ukraine completely withdraw from four regions in the east and south that Moscow asserts it has annexed, although it does not fully control these areas.

Putin further accused Ukraine of orchestrating “terrorist acts” against bridges in its border regions over the weekend, including one incident that resulted in a train derailment, leading to seven fatalities and injuring 115 others.

He stated that this attack, which Ukraine has not taken responsibility for, was aimed at disrupting the peace negotiations.

Putin also alleged that these incidents indicated a shift in the Ukrainian government towards a “terrorist organization.”

Instead of the requested 30-day truce, Russia suggested a brief ceasefire of two to three days on Monday, aimed at allowing both sides to recover the remains of fallen soldiers from the battlefield.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed Putin that Kyiv had rejected this proposal.

Putin asserted that the Kyiv leadership “has no interest in peace,” as such an outcome would jeopardize their hold on power.

Additionally, Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed that Moscow is prepared to proceed with a large-scale prisoner exchange that was agreed upon in Istanbul on June 7-9, following remarks from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky that the first phase would occur this weekend.