Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow is prepared to consider halting deep strikes on Ukraine on the day it holds presidential elections, provided that those living in Russia are also allowed to vote.
“We are ready to consider possible ways to ensure security during elections in Ukraine, at least by not launching deep strikes in the country on the eve of the vote, under a few conditions”, Putin said.
He insisted that Ukrainian citizens currently residing in Russia – between 5010 million – must be allowed to vote in these elections.
Russia considers Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be an illegitimate leader since his term expired in 2024, but Kyiv has been refusing to hold elections citing martial law in the country.
However, Zelenskyy agreed this month to hold a vote within 90 days, after US-mediated negotiations, but on the condition that Kyiv’s Western backers guarantee security to the nation.
Also Read: US–Ukraine peace negotiations enter third day
Ukraine and its western supporters have constantly called for a temporary ceasefire, yet Russia has rejected any possibility of such an arrangement, insisting on a permanent peace that addresses the conflict’s underlying causes.
On Friday, Putin warned Kyiv against using the election as a tactic to buy time to rearm and regroup in an effort to halt the advance of Russia’s forces, and indirectly hinted that Russia would consider real peace with the elected government in Ukraine.
“Peace without an elected government is impossible,” the Russian President said.
Russian demands for peace have remain unchanged – it wants Ukraine to limit troop size to 600,000, give up land occupied in Crimea and Donbas, denazify the country and remain neutral by giving up its aspiration to join NATO.
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