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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he does not see a clear initiative for an Easter ceasefire from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and stressed that, in Moscow’s view, Ukraine should take responsibility for further steps toward peace.
Peskov reiterated the Kremlin’s position: Russia is not opposed to the idea of a ceasefire, but insists on a broader political settlement rather than a temporary pause in hostilities.
At the same time, Zelensky has previously stated that Ukraine is ready to consider various ceasefire formats, including during Easter, provided that the country’s sovereignty is preserved and there are no security risks. He also emphasized that a short-term ceasefire, in his view, would not allow Russia to significantly strengthen its position.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War note that Ukraine continues to demonstrate readiness for negotiations and compromises, while Russia, according to their assessments, shows no real interest in ending the fighting or reaching a lasting peace.
Reports also point out that previous attempts by Russia to declare an “Easter ceasefire” did not lead to an actual halt in fighting, as violations continued, undermining trust in such initiatives.
Against this backdrop, possible humanitarian steps are also being discussed, including prisoner exchanges, which could become one of the few tangible outcomes of the negotiation process.
