MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - Russia cannot cease fire in Ukraine in the hope for reaching peace agreements as Kiev could take advantage of this to achieve its goals, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in response to journalists' questions.
"We simply cannot decide right now and declare a ceasefire in the hope that the opposing side will take certain positive steps," Putin said.
"We cannot allow that after the ceasefire the enemy will make use of this ceasefire to improve their situation, rearm themselves, to replenish their army using forced mobilization and to be ready to continue the armed conflict," he said.
"We need to secure that the opposing side agrees to take steps that would be irreversible and acceptable to Russia. A ceasefire without reaching such agreements is impossible," Putin said.