Russia rules out ceasefire without addressing 'root causes' of Ukraine conflict

Russia has indicated it will not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine without addressing the fundamental causes of the conflict, as stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin. These remarks come amid U.S. efforts to restart peace negotiations, with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly planning visits to Kyiv and Moscow. Galuzin criticized ongoing U.S. military and intelligence support for Ukraine, deeming it incompatible with a commitment to peace. He also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of escalating the conflict and losing touch with reality. Kyiv has advocated for freezing the current front lines as a basis for a ceasefire, a proposal that Russia rejects, instead demanding Ukrainian forces withdraw from parts of the Donbas region. Meanwhile, Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian military infrastructure, while Russia has continued its missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. A U.S. official suggested that both Moscow and Kyiv might be open to considering an air ceasefire. Previously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that the war's outcome depends on actions on the front lines rather than negotiations.