<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Russia today said that a ceasefire in Ukraine would not enable it to achieve the goals of its special military operation at the moment. The Kremlin was reacting after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko called for an immediate ceasefire, without preconditions, and for both Moscow and Kyiv to start negotiations on a lasting peace settlement.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia had noted Lukashenko's comments and that President Vladimir Putin would discuss it with him next week. But he said Russia's goals in Ukraine could not be achieved at the moment through a halt in fighting.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Earlier, Russia said it is open to peace but has made clear this would only be on its terms. It says Kyiv must accept the new realities on the ground.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">However, Ukraine has said Russia must withdraw its troops as a precursor to any peace deal and says any temporary ceasefire would only allow Russia to regroup for future military action.</span></p>