A potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine can only be agreed upon if Kyiv takes certain “irreversible” steps that would be “acceptable” for Moscow, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He stated this during a press conference at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on Thursday.
Putin emphasized that a ceasefire cannot be declared without some guarantee that the opposing side will take positive steps towards peace. If a cessation of hostilities is agreed upon without any preconditions, he argued, Kiev would use this opportunity to rearm itself and prepare for a continuation of the conflict.
The Russian president explained his stance by saying that they cannot allow their adversary to capitalize on the ceasefire to improve its positions, restock its armory, mobilize its forces through coercion, and ultimately be ready to continue the war.
These remarks shed light on Russia’s approach towards negotiating a potential truce with Ukraine, which has seen ongoing conflict for several years now. Achieving an acceptable ceasefire will likely require significant concessions from Kyiv and a commitment to take steps that would be deemed “irreversible” by the Russian government.
While it remains unclear what these irreversible steps might entail, it is clear that Russia is looking for assurances that any ceasefire agreement will not simply provide Ukraine with an opportunity to regroup and prepare for further conflict. For now, it seems that a lasting peace between the two nations will require significant diplomatic efforts and compromises from both sides.