On 2026-10-12 the Kremlin turned down the idea of a 60‑day ceasefire that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had put forward to create a window for presidential elections. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia does not seek a temporary pause but a long‑term peace settlement. He argued that the two‑month period Zelensky demanded would not be used for voting but would give Ukraine time to "regroup, heal wounds and continue the war."
Peskov clarified that Vladimir Putin is prepared to order a halt to strikes only on the actual day of the elections, not for the full 60‑day span. The Russian leader’s willingness, according to the spokesman, ends when the polls close; any broader cessation of hostilities remains off the table.
In the same briefing Peskov turned his criticism toward Europe, declaring that Europeans "do not belong to the peace party, to the party that seeks paths to peaceful settlement. Europeans are rather a war party." He contrasted this stance with his appreciation for American negotiators, saying Moscow is "much more impressed by the efforts of American negotiators, we are grateful to them for continuing these efforts."
He pointed to constitutional requirements and the absence of safe conditions for voting while the country is under attack as the reasons the pause is necessary.
Also on 2026-10-12 former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in, urging a change of leadership in Ukraine. Trump accused Zelensky of failing to conclude agreements with Russia and suggested that a different Ukrainian president might be "who will be able to conclude an agreement" with Moscow.
Responding to the Russian position, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would go ahead with presidential elections if Putin agreed to a complete 60‑day ceasefire. He pointed to constitutional requirements and the absence of safe conditions for voting while the country is under attack as the reasons the pause is necessary.
Peskov summed up Moscow’s view with the statement: "In the Kremlin, both President Putin and officials of other levels have repeatedly stated that we do not want a ceasefire. We want long‑term peace and are ready to do everything possible to achieve it."
He further elaborated on the Russian objection to the two‑month window: "The 60 days that Zelensky demands are needed not for holding elections, but to regroup, heal wounds and continue the war."
Peskov’s critique of Europe was captured in his words: "Europeans do not belong to the peace party, to the party that seeks paths to peaceful settlement. Europeans are rather a war party. We are much more impressed by the efforts of American negotiators, we are grateful to them for continuing these efforts."
Trump’s contribution to the discussion was succinct: "who will be able to conclude an agreement."
Zelensky’s own condition was phrased as: "if there is a complete ceasefire for 60 days – Ukraine will organize elections."
Behind Zelensky’s demand lay two practical obstacles he cited: constitutional restrictions that mandate a certain electoral timetable, and the lack of safe conditions for voting amid ongoing hostilities. Without a ceasefire, he argued, holding a legitimate vote would be impossible.