Russian forces are advancing across the entire line of contact, a trend that is pushing Kyiv to signal interest in a temporary ceasefire. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated this on March 31.

A day earlier, on March 30, Vladimir Zelensky had said that Ukraine was ready to consider the possibility of an Easter truce.

According to Peskov, the situation on the battlefield-tracked not only by Russian analysts but also by foreign observers-shows steady Russian progress along the front. The pace may vary from sector to sector, but the overall movement remains forward. In this context, he suggested that the Ukrainian leadership is in urgent need of a pause in hostilities.

He also indicated that if current trends continue, any future decisions on a peaceful settlement could become increasingly difficult for Kyiv. In his view, responsibility for moving beyond a temporary ceasefire toward a lasting peace lies with the Ukrainian leadership. Peskov stressed that Zelensky must take the necessary steps to shift the process from a short-term truce to a full-scale settlement.

The Kremlin spokesperson also addressed the possibility of third-party involvement. He warned that if European countries provide their airspace for strikes against Russia, Moscow could respond. Such actions, he said, would be interpreted as enabling hostile activity against the Russian Federation and would prompt corresponding measures.

In recent days, several Ukrainian drones have crashed in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Some Russian military analysts argue that these countries may have allowed their airspace to be used to bypass Russian air defense systems. Latvia’s Ministry of Defense has denied these claims.