"For those who know russian, this is a real Freudian slip on the part of putin’s aide: he demands that Ukraine withdraw troops from the Donetsk oblast so that military actions would 'pause', not 'end'", - Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi commented on the statement by kremlin representative Yuri Ushakov.
According to him, this statement is an admission by putin that "moscow seeks a respite, not peace" and does not intend to end the war against Ukraine.
As previously reported, putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov stated on May 7 that a suspension of military actions and further discussion of the terms of a "long-term settlement" are possible only after the Armed Forces of Ukraine leave Donbas.