The Kremlin sheds light on the idea of “freezing” the conflict: Putin proposes a transition to a quiet period that would allow stopping hostilities along the current front line
Within the circles of Russian authorities and propaganda, there has been renewed talk about a possible scenario of "freezing" the war in Ukraine. Reports indicate that official Kremlin representatives are concealing in their statements the idea that achieving some stability and reducing tensions requires a "ceasefire" along the existing front line. The main source for journalists has been the official position of the Russian President’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, who, in comments for Russian media, attempted to clarify the essence of such messages. According to him, the activity in the media concerning discussions of potential compromises and conflict resolution options raises some suspicion. Peskov emphasized that any details about potential proposals, plan samples, or possible solution formulas should not be made public, as in such a delicate situation, open discussion could only diminish the likelihood of their implementation. "We observe that many various messages appear in the mass media. You understand that any drafts and projects of regulation that appear in the public space are not truly effective because they lose their meaning when they fall into the hands of adversarial and propaganda networks," noted Dmitry Peskov. The Kremlin spokesman also highlighted that work in this direction is being conducted in a "discrete mode," meaning privately and without broad coverage. He stressed that for reaching agreements, "silence" is needed, since any public discussion of such scenarios could hinder the possibility of finding a compromise and complicate the negotiation process. In the context of discussions surrounding Putin’s proposal of "freezing" the conflict, Kremlin officials mention that a serious consideration is currently given to a temporary cessation of active hostilities—but such a step should occur under the condition of maintaining the current front line, meaning without returning occupied territories under Ukrainian control. Experts and analysts surveyed affirm that this scenario is designed to serve as at least a temporary way out of the deadlock into which the conflict has fallen. At the same time, the Kremlin insists that inviting public statements and discussions of any formulations is currently inappropriate. Such actions could complicate the negotiation process and delay the potential path toward de-escalation. Peskov summarized that, in the matter of finding a solution, silence is now important, since any noise in such issues can make cooperation even more difficult. Russia’s top leadership traditionally maintains diplomatic caution and approaches possible steps toward ending hostilities or agreeing on a settlement formula with prudence. Nonetheless, the Kremlin is clearly not planning to change the cost of its interests and positions for now, focusing instead on preserving the controlled status quo and avoiding any public compromises that could cast doubt on their strategic objectives. Thus, Peskov’s statements about "silence" and the necessity of secrecy are an attempt to suppress the informational background regarding any proposals for conflict resolution, while keeping the option open to introduce a new scenario at any moment, depending on the evolving political and military situation in Ukraine.