Moscow, Dec 10 (NationPress) The Kremlin has declared that Russia is focusing on achieving a lasting and sustainable peace in Ukraine, rather than merely settling for a ceasefire. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized this point during a briefing on Wednesday.

Responding to questions regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's remarks about Ukraine's readiness to negotiate an "energy truce," Peskov reiterated, "We are pursuing peace, not a ceasefire," as reported by Russia's state-run news agency Tass.

He further stated, "A sustainable, durable, and lasting peace, achieved through formal agreements, is of utmost importance to us." Zelensky had previously mentioned that Ukraine was preparing a proposal for an energy truce, indicating expectations for cooperation from Russia.

Peskov also refuted claims about Russian President Vladimir Putin rejecting a US peace initiative for Ukraine, branding such assertions as "incorrect." Tass quoted him saying, "It wouldn’t be accurate to define it that way," when asked about the validity of reports suggesting Putin had dismissed the US peace framework.

He noted that a phone conversation between Putin and Trump could be arranged at any time, but added that progress must first be made at the expert level. "A call can happen at any moment, and we can organize it quickly," Peskov stated, referencing earlier comments from Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov regarding ongoing expert discussions.

Peskov expressed appreciation for President Trump and his administration’s efforts towards a peaceful resolution to the situation in Ukraine, saying, "We value President Trump’s political commitment to pursuing peaceful resolutions in Ukraine. We are thankful for the Trump administration's initiatives in this regard." He affirmed that Russian representatives are prepared to engage with their US counterparts as frequently as necessary to secure a peaceful settlement.

He made this remark in light of the sixth visit by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia, who met with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss Ukraine. "We are committed to meeting as often as it takes to reach a peaceful agreement," Peskov stated when queried about the progress and the number of additional meetings necessary to approach a peace deal.