Russia has firmly rejected renewed Western calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accusing NATO and the European Union of leveraging the truce proposal as a strategic ploy to benefit Kyiv.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Lavrov said the West had dramatically shifted its position moving from demands for a decisive Russian defeat to now pushing for an unconditional ceasefire. According to Lavrov, this reversal is less about peace and more about giving Ukraine “time to regroup and rearm,” which he framed as part of a broader “secret plan” to sustain Western influence in the region.

“The West’s goal is not peace,” Lavrov stated. “They want to freeze the front lines, protect their investments in Ukraine, and prolong this conflict under a new guise.”

Moscow reiterated that it will not consider any ceasefire proposals that fail to acknowledge Russia’s claimed territorial gains, particularly in eastern and southern Ukraine. The Kremlin maintains that any negotiations must begin with a recognition of the “new realities on the ground.”

Western leaders have not responded directly to Lavrov’s remarks but have consistently emphasized the need for a negotiated end to the war that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The rejection underscores the deepening mistrust and the complex geopolitical maneuvering surrounding the conflict, now in its third year.