MOSCOW (Realist English). The Kremlin has rejected any proposal for a ceasefire tied to the holding of a territorial referendum in Ukraine, saying Moscow is seeking a lasting peace rather than a temporary pause in fighting.
Commenting on remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about a possible territorial referendum, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would not accept what it sees as an attempt to use a vote as a pretext for halting military operations, according to the state news agency TASS.
“If this is about creating a pretext to demand a ceasefire, a breather, a pause on the front line, then this will not work, obviously,” Peskov said.
He stressed that Russia’s position is focused on achieving a comprehensive settlement, not a short-term truce. “We want to work toward peace, not a ceasefire. A ceasefire is another form of delay. What is needed is peace — guaranteed, long-term, and clear to everyone,” he added.
U.S.-led diplomatic track
Peskov’s comments come amid intensified diplomatic activity around a potential settlement. In November, Washington put forward a 28-point plan aimed at resolving the conflict. The proposal drew criticism from Kyiv and several European partners, who sought substantial revisions.
On 23 November, the United States and Ukraine held consultations in Geneva. U.S. President Donald Trump later said the original American plan had been revised to reflect the positions of both Moscow and Kyiv, with only a few contentious issues remaining.
Further talks between U.S. and Ukrainian representatives took place in Florida on 30 November, focusing on pathways to end the conflict, long-term economic and security arrangements, the prospect of elections in Ukraine, and territorial questions.
Contacts with Moscow
Diplomatic engagement with Russia has also continued. In the early hours of 3 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and a businessman. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said the talks on Ukraine were “constructive and substantive,” with several peace plan options discussed, including territorial issues. The sides agreed to maintain further contacts.
On 6 December, three days of negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations concluded in Florida. Following those talks, Witkoff and Kushner held a phone call with Zelenskyy. According to Axios, U.S. negotiators are now exploring new approaches to addressing territorial questions as part of a broader settlement framework.
Against this backdrop, Moscow’s rejection of any ceasefire linked to a referendum underscores the sharp differences that remain over sequencing — whether a halt in fighting should precede or follow a comprehensive political agreement — even as diplomatic channels between Russia, Ukraine and the United States remain active.