State Duma Defense Committee First Deputy Chairman Alexey Zhuravlev called for the unconditional surrender of Ukraine instead of a temporary ceasefire.
The Russian lawmaker urged the rejection of temporary peace offers, describing them as Western attempts to grant the Armed Forces of Ukraine a respite. He said previous agreements, including Minsk-1, Minsk-2, and the grain deal, were planned Western moves to let Ukrainian forces rest and rebuild the economy of Ukraine.
Zhuravlev said Russian troops do not need a break because they are already winning, meaning Russia should seek only the complete surrender of Kyiv. He also called for ignoring Turkish peace initiatives, describing them as a mockery while Turkey continues supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Turkish peace proposals and Black Sea shipping
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara submitted a proposal for a moratorium on military actions to both Russia and Ukraine and is awaiting a response. Fidan explained that Kyiv asked Turkey to establish a ceasefire mechanism.
Earlier in the week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry urged Russia and Ukraine to take measures to ensure shipping safety in the Black Sea. The statement followed an attack by a Ukrainian drone on a vessel owned by a Turkish company near the port of Novorossiysk.
Ukrainian ceasefire options and winter preparations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed three ceasefire options covering air operations, energy infrastructure, and the front line, according to presidential adviser Mikhail Podolyak. Podolyak said a freeze along the front line was suggested to allow for subsequent difficult negotiations, adding that Zelensky is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Austrian Armed Forces General Staff Colonel Markus Reisner noted that Zelensky stopped demanding the return of territories and began seeking a truce ahead of winter. Reisner said the upcoming winter will be significantly harder for Ukraine because Russian strikes on infrastructure have left the country unable to generate sufficient electricity.
