‘We’re Not Going to Lose’: Kremlin Says No Truce as Russia Pushes Forward

The Kremlin’s mouthpiece has said Russia will not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, claiming it now has the “strategic advantage” on the battlefield and intends to keep advancing.

His comments were made one day after Ukraine’s unilateral call for a ceasefire, backed by the United States, passed the 100-day mark.

Russia rejected any pause, insisting it would only stop fighting if certain conditions are met – including the full withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four occupied regions, a halt to Western military support, an end to mobilization, and the lifting of martial law in Ukraine.

“We have a strategic advantage now. Why should we lose it? We’re not going to lose it. We’re moving forward. We are moving forward and we will continue to move forward,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said during an interview with Sky News published Friday.

Peskov added that Moscow could consider a truce only if Western countries stop sending weapons to Ukraine during the pause in fighting.

“A truce is a truce, you stop. But America is not saying ‘we will stop all shipments,’ as are Britain and France. That’s the problem,” he said.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Istanbul on June 2, where Kyiv proposed a summit between the countries’ leaders before the end of the month. After the talks, Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya said Russia had refused to consider a ceasefire and the Kremlin dismissed the idea, saying such a summit should only happen after meaningful agreements are reached by lower-level negotiators.

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Much of Peskov’s interview focused on broader international tensions, including the Iran-Israel conflict. He called any Western push for regime change in Tehran “unacceptable” and said even discussing the idea was “out of line.”