Russia Rejects Ukraine War Freeze Without Addressing Root Causes

Russia has firmly rejected proposals to freeze its war in Ukraine along the current front lines, insisting that any agreement must first address what Moscow calls the "root causes" of the conflict. The statement, made by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin on August 10, 2026, comes as the United States prepares to send envoys to Kyiv and Moscow in a bid to revive stalled peace efforts.

Galuzin told the state-owned TASS news agency that "no freeze is possible without addressing the root causes of this crisis," a position he attributed to President Vladimir Putin. He accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of having "lost all touch with reality" and attempting to escalate the fighting. The Russian official also criticized Washington's approach, arguing that continued U.S. weapons deliveries and intelligence support for Ukraine are incompatible with a genuine commitment to peace.

The comments highlight the deep divide between the two sides as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to both capitals with new proposals. Ukraine has argued that freezing the conflict along the existing front line would provide the most realistic basis for a...