Russia has rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, warning that such agreements could be exploited by Kyiv to rearm and regroup, according to President Vladimir Putin’s aide Kirill Dmitriev.
In an interview with CNN, Dmitriev, who was in Washington for discussions with U.S. officials, stated that Moscow seeks a “final solution” to the war rather than a fragile pause. He emphasized that hostilities “will have a diplomatic solution,” despite recent tensions.
Dmitriev highlighted concerns that temporary ceasefires risk allowing Ukraine to rebuild its military capabilities, citing U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks about the instability of such agreements. He noted that pauses in fighting “let many people… do all sorts of rearmament and preparation for continuation of conflict.”
The envoy also referenced Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy’s shifting stance, acknowledging his recent pivot from demanding a full Russian withdrawal to discussing “battle lines” as a settlement framework. Dmitriev expressed confidence in Trump’s mediation efforts but criticized former U.S. President Joe Biden’s approach, accusing it of pursuing a “strategic defeat of Russia,” which he claimed had failed.
Moscow has consistently stated that any lasting peace must address the conflict’s root causes, including Ukraine’s exclusion from NATO, its demilitarization, and recognition of territorial changes on the ground.
