Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday seemed to rule out the possibility of a general ceasefire in Ukraine, suggesting that any suspension of fighting would provide an opportunity for Kyiv to resupply its military.
Ukraine has been calling for an overall and unconditional 30-day cessation of hostilities, with its latest plea handed over in Moscow during peace talks held on Monday in Istanbul.
"Why give them a reward by granting them a relief from the fighting, which will be utilized to fill the regime with Western weapons, to pursue their forced mobilization and prepare various terror attacks," Putin declared during a televised meeting with government officials.
In the talks, Russian officials presented sweeping requirements for the ceasefire deal, such as the complete retreat of Ukrainian troops from four regions in the country's east and south—regions that Russia says it has annexed but does not fully occupy.
Moreover, Putin blamed Ukraine for organizing a string of "terrorist attacks" on Russian border region infrastructure at the weekend. One example was a bridge sabotage that caused a train to derail, killing seven people and injuring at least 115.
Putin said the purpose of the attack, which Ukraine has not confirmed, was "aimed at preventing the negotiation process.
He also claimed that such events show how the Ukrainian leadership is "becoming a terrorist organisation."
Rather than accepting Kyiv's proposal of a month-long ceasefire, Russia made a much briefer halt in hostilities—a two-to-three-day ceasefire—aimed only for both sides to recuperate and bring back bodies of dead soldiers from the battlefield.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov briefed Putin that Ukraine had rejected the limited truce offer.
The Kyiv government "does not need peace at all," says Putin, arguing that a halt to the war would result in a loss of power for its ruling elite.
Russia's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed that Moscow will hold fast to the prisoner exchange deal struck in Istanbul. This swap, planned for June 7-9, conforms to a recent declaration by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said the first stage of the exchange would start this weekend.
