Russia Ukraine rejects media report on possible ceasefire

The Ukrainian government has firmly rejected an Italian media report that it is ready for a ceasefire with Russia along the current front line.

"This is untrue," said Dmytro Lytvyn, advisor and speechwriter to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, according to a report by the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

Ukraine continues to adhere to the peace formula published in autumn 2022, which is based on the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, he emphasized. "The Victory Plan, which is being presented to the UK, France, Italy and Germany these days, is an instrument that will drive the situation towards the implementation of the peace formula."

The Italian daily newspaper "Corriere della Sera" had previously written, without citing any sources, that Zelenskyi was prepared to agree to a ceasefire on the current front line without recognizing it as the official border. In return, the West should commit to security guarantees and Ukraine's rapid accession to the EU.

Reports regularly appear in the Western media suggesting a ceasefire along the current front line as a possible negotiation. Kiev rejects these again and again. Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for more than two and a half years with Western help.