Lavrov Rejects Ukraine Ceasefire Proposals, Claims Kyiv Wants Time to Rearm

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed Ukrainian calls for an immediate ceasefire and agreements covering energy, food supplies, airspace and maritime activity, claiming they were intended to give Kyiv time to rebuild its military capabilities. “Ukraine is calling for an immediate ceasefire, for agreements on an energy, food, air and maritime truce. None of this is for peace,” Lavrov said, according to Russia’s state news agency TASS.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. He alleged that such arrangements would provide Ukraine with a respite to restore its combat strength with support from foreign backers. Lavrov said Moscow wanted a broader settlement addressing what it describes as the conflict’s “root causes,” rather than a temporary halt to fighting. “We insist not on a temporary ceasefire, that has happened many times before, but on reliably eliminating the root causes of the crisis,” he said. Why might Ukraine and Russia want an energy truce? Ukraine is concerned about a difficult winter, while Russia is facing an unprecedented fuel crisis. For Ukraine, energy infrastructure – including power stations, substations and gas storage facilities – was hit hard by Russian attacks in previous winters. Repairs are costly and time-consuming, and with the country facing a budget crunch, any further Russian strikes would put additional pressure on a battered system. For Russia, meanwhile, Ukrainian strikes on oil infrastructure have hit export revenues and severely cut domestic fuel supplies, raising concerns about public discontent. A recent think tank report suggested that Russia’s overall exports and revenues dropped by 7% and 8% respectively, with extra spending needed to import gasoline and diesel to keep the country running. Other Topics of Interest Medinsky to Lead Abu Dhabi Peace Talks, Again The arrangement risks a repetition of the 2025 Istanbul talks – also headed by Medinsky – when the only tangible outcome was a POW swap as the war raged on. But at the same time, both Kyiv and Moscow also expect each other to break this winter, with top officials and commanders calling the season a win-or-break moment in the war, casting doubt on whether an energy truce can hold. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.