Moscow conceded for the first time yesterday that its forces had committed "tragic errors" in Chechnya but ruled out holding peace talks with the rebel republic. "We regret these errors and we carry the moral responsibility," the Kremlin deputy chief of staff, Mr Igor Shabdurasulov said.
But he justified the Chechen offensive and said no negotiations would be opened with President Aslan Maskhadov until he handed over rebel field commanders to Russia. "Unfortunately the activity of international terrorists and fighters have forced the government to resort to force," he said.
He dismissed a 1997 agreement that delayed a decision on Chechnya's independence until the end of 2000 as no longer applicable. "The Chechen republic is an inseparable part of Russia," he said. "Its status will not come under discussion today, in 2001 or in 2005."
Meanwhile, in Helsinki, the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Igor Ivanov said on Friday that Russia wanted to end its offensive in Chechnya quickly and start working on a political solution.
He said, however, that Chechen rebels fighting Russian forces in the breakaway region had to surrender to allow such a quick end to fighting.
"We are interested in quickly ending the anti-terrorist operations and starting the process for a political settlement," Mr Ivanov said after arriving in Finland for a regional conference.
Mr Ivanov made the remarks after being asked to comment on reports that his cabinet colleague, Defence Minister, Mr Igor Sergeyev, saw a chance of the seven-week-old offensive in Chechnya ending before the end of the year.
All these comments from Russia come a week before an Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Istanbul in which Russia is likely to be grilled about Chechen claims that more than 3,200 people have been killed in indiscriminate attacks.
An OSCE mission visiting Chechen refugee camps in southern Russia was barred by Russian forces from entering the northern sections of the republic now under federal command.
Team leader, Mr Kim Traavik on returning to Moscow described the refugee problem as "serious" with potential to grow much worse. "In the long run there is a significant potential for medical problems," Mr Traavik said. He also offered OSCE's help in mediating an end to the war.
While under growing pressure to end the offensive, Moscow has issued conflicting signals about how long it expects the war to last. Defence Minister, Mr Igor Sergeyev has dismissed suggestions that Russian generals would become insubordinate if the war was halted prematurely.
But some army sources have said that Russia would wage war in Chechnya for many years if necessary and that generals would resist orders calling off the offensive before a decisive victory.