Kremlin rules out ending war along current front line

The Kremlin has reiterated that it does not consider the option of a “freeze” of the war against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov said that Moscow’s current position rules out such a scenario.

“As for the possibility of freezing the conflict, our position probably rules it out,” — Ushakov said, answering a question from journalists.

His statement was reported by the Russian state broadcaster “Vesti.” Thus, Moscow has once again made it clear that it does not intend to agree to a cessation of hostilities along the existing front line.

The Russian authorities have voiced a similar position before. On August 10, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said that Moscow would not agree to a “freeze” of the war without eliminating the so-called “root causes” of the conflict. By this term, the Russian leadership means fulfilling a number of its political and territorial demands on Ukraine.

A few days later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also rejected a ceasefire option that would leave the front line at its current positions. The Russian side continues to insist on a broader agreement on its own terms, rather than a temporary halt to hostilities.

The position of Ukraine and its partners differs. Kyiv and the countries of the “Coalition of the Willing” support a ceasefire that would begin from the current line of contact and allow for meaningful negotiations on a long-term settlement and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Thus, the public positions of the parties on halting hostilities remain fundamentally different for now: Ukraine and its partners consider a ceasefire as a first step toward negotiations, while Moscow continues to reject a simple “freeze” of the war.

Based on materials from: “Vesti”, The Moscow Times, Office of the President of Ukraine