OREANDA-NEWS There is a possibility of a Christmas or New Year truce between Russia and Ukraine, but this requires the corresponding desire of the Ukrainian side. This is the opinion in a conversation with Lenta was expressed by State Duma deputy Alexei Chepa. He added that Russia has always been open to negotiations.

"I think a truce is possible. We just need an aspiration, a desire for it to be fulfilled," the politician said. — It is difficult to talk about the Ukrainian side — the leadership there fulfills the will of other people. And I don't know how much [the agreement to the truce] will be controlled by them."

Chepa also did not rule out the risk of deception by the Russian side, Ukraine's transition to hostilities, despite the declared truce.

"Before that, we used all the opportunities, offered peace to the Ukrainian side. She used this to redeploy troops. Russia is always ready for negotiations, has stated this from the very beginning," the deputy stressed.

Earlier, the White House coordinator for strategic Communications, John Kirby, promised that the United States would not dictate the terms of the truce to Ukraine. He noted that only the President of the country, Vladimir Zelensky, and the Ukrainian people should determine the terms of peace negotiations.