Kremlin rejects 60-day ceasefire for Ukraine's elections but may pause strikes on election day

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on October 12 that Russia will not accept a 60-day ceasefire that would let Ukrainian authorities hold a presidential election. The statement responds to a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, made after remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about Ukraine's leadership. It matters because the question of holding elections is now tied to the wider discussion of how to end the war.

What Peskov said

The Kremlin spokesperson made clear that a longer truce is not acceptable, but he left another option open. According to him, if people in Kyiv really want to hold elections, the Russian president, who is also supreme commander-in-chief, would be ready to order that Ukraine not be struck on election day. Peskov stressed that he was speaking specifically about the day of the vote itself.

What came before

On October 10, Trump said it was time for Ukraine to get a new president who could make a deal. Zelensky then suggested that Trump tell Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine needs a 60-day ceasefire in order to hold elections. In his words, there would be a total ceasefire for 60 days, and Ukraine would organize the elections.

The source does not say whether a date for a Ukrainian presidential election has been set. Peskov's remarks indicate that Moscow rejects an extended pause in fighting and, at most, is considering halting strikes for a single day.