‘Will halt airstrikes on election day in Ukraine’: Russian Minister | World News

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in a statement to the TASS news agency that Russia will stop air strikes in Ukraine on election day if Kiev decides to hold presidential elections.

TASS previously reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin also stated that Moscow was ready to stop air strikes if elections were held in Ukraine.

Galuzin supported President Putin’s statement and said: “Of course, the statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin remain valid. But, as I mentioned earlier, there is no talk yet about the practical organization of voting in Ukraine.”

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs accused Ukraine of carrying out drone attacks during election campaigns in Russia in 2024.

Galuzin said, “I would like to draw attention to our experience. Presidential elections were held in Russia in March 2024, and polls were opened near the combat zone, taking into account the ongoing military operations. Kiev tried every possible way to disrupt the election process in the front regions, without hesitation by resorting to terrorist tools and sabotage. However, it could not achieve its goal.”

He added that Russia “will not bow to Kiev’s practices and will allow the Ukrainian people to fully exercise their constitutionally guaranteed electoral rights and independently determine the future development of their country.” “Of course, if the Kyiv regime finally decides to take this democratic step.”

This came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference that elections would be held in Kiev if Moscow agreed to a ceasefire. He called on US President Donald Trump to “press” Putin for a ceasefire.

Zelenskyy said, “Give us a ceasefire. President Trump can do this. Force Putin, make a ceasefire, then our Parliament will change the law and we will hold elections. We can also offer a ceasefire to the Russians if they hold elections in Russia.” he said.

This took place against the background of the trilateral meeting between Ukraine, Russia and the United States, which was expected to be held in Geneva on February 17-18.