The Russian military appears sceptical about the United States’ proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin expressed “serious questions” regarding Washington’s initiative.
“Those with combat experience understand that any pause in fighting is an opportunity for Ukraine to improve its tactical positions,” one Russian serviceman told The Moscow Times.
“Everyone in the army considers a temporary ceasefire complete nonsense. There is no other option at the front,” said the soldier, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.
His view reflects a broader sentiment within the Russian military that the conflict will not end swiftly and that any pause in hostilities will only provide a strategic advantage to Kyiv.
Putin stated on Thursday that Moscow was willing to discuss the ceasefire plan with U.S. President Donald Trump but stressed that “nuances” needed to be addressed. He specifically questioned how a ceasefire could be enforced along a front line stretching thousands of kilometres and what would happen to the remaining Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region.
“The president’s words highlight the main flaw in the U.S. proposal,” said Archangel of the Special Forces, one of Russia’s largest pro-military Telegram channels with over 1.1 million subscribers. The channel, which describes itself as a voice for airborne troops, questioned why Russian leadership would agree to a ceasefire that it believes would allow the enemy time to regroup and return stronger.
“Of course, we will still win, but at what cost? The initiative on the front line is entirely ours,” the channel wrote.
During a visit to Kursk, Putin praised Russia’s military progress against Ukraine, stating that Russian troops were advancing along the front line.
Moscow has recently made territorial gains, claiming to have pushed Ukrainian forces out of the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region. Sudzha is seen as one of Kyiv’s potential bargaining chips in any future territorial negotiations.
Pro-Kremlin war correspondent Alexander Kots suggested that Putin’s visit to Kursk — where he appeared in military uniform for the first time and praised Russian advances — signalled that Russia was not considering a ceasefire.
“This is not about a ceasefire. It is a message to our American ‘partners,’ to our Ukrainian beggars, and, importantly, to our military. There will be no betrayal,” Kots said.
One Russian soldier told The Moscow Times that while many troops “hope for an end to the war as they do not want to die or be wounded,” they also recognise that ceasefire negotiations have not changed the reality on the ground.
“There has been no order from military leadership to stop preparations. Across all fronts — from Luhansk to Zaporizhzhia — fortifications are being reinforced,” he said, referring to his fellow soldiers at the front.
Despite a military ban on personal devices at the front lines, the soldier said he and his comrades keep up with battlefield developments using their mobile phones.
Another Russian soldier, reflecting on the geopolitical situation, said he believed the negotiations could ultimately secure Russian control over the four Ukrainian regions annexed by the Kremlin in 2022.
Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Moscow has occupied about one-fifth of Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory.
The pro-war Telegram channel Rybar, which has close ties to the Russian military and over 1.3 million subscribers, said Russia’s response to the American proposal was clear: while U.S. peacekeeping efforts were an improvement over previous proposals, “there are nuances.”
“The main issue is that [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that mobilisation will not be cancelled and that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will continue to receive weapons. Thus, the Kyiv regime is not creating conditions for an immediate ceasefire, let alone meeting other Russian demands,” it wrote.
The pro-Russian Telegram channel Povernutyye na Voyne (Obsessed With War) reposted a message criticising Ukraine: “When one side presents unconditional ultimatums disguised as dialogue, reaching a peace agreement is impossible.”
“Therefore, in the coming days, we can expect accusations from the American side about Russia’s unwillingness to make peace, which will likely lead to an escalation of the war,” it added.
Russian soldiers on the front lines remain doubtful that the war will end soon or that negotiations will be successful.
“No one expects to be back home by summer,” a Russian soldier told The Moscow Times.
“Everyone understands that we are in this for the long haul.”
