Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he believes the war in Ukraine is moving toward its end. His remarks came just hours after he pledged victory in Ukraine during one of Moscow’s most limited Victory Day parades in recent years. Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Putin said he felt the situation was approaching a conclusion. He also expressed interest in discussing a new European security framework and named former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as his preferred dialogue partner. Since Russia launched its military offensive in Ukraine in 2022, relations between Moscow and the Western world have fallen into their deepest crisis since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when fears of a nuclear war gripped the world. The Kremlin said peace negotiations mediated by the administration of US President Donald Trump are currently on hold. However, Putin reiterated that Russia would continue what Moscow calls its “special military operation” until all of its objectives are achieved. In his Kremlin remarks, Putin blamed Western “globalist” leaders for the conflict, claiming that after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the West had promised not to expand NATO eastward, but later attempted to pull Ukraine into the European sphere of influence. Putin’s comments came hours after Russia marked Victory Day on May 9, commemorating the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Every year, the event honors nearly 27 million Soviet citizens who died during the war. This year’s parade, however, was notably restrained. Instead of showcasing intercontinental ballistic missiles, tanks, and heavy military equipment in Red Square, large screens displayed video footage of military hardware. Russian forces have now been fighting in Ukraine for more than four years, making the conflict longer than the Soviet Union’s involvement in what Russians call the “Great Patriotic War” during World War II. Putin, who has remained in power as president or prime minister since the final day of 1999, is facing growing concern in Moscow over the prolonged war. Hundreds of thousands of people have reportedly been killed, vast areas of Ukraine have been reduced to ruins, and the conflict has placed enormous pressure on Russia’s nearly $3 trillion economy. At the same time, relations between Russia and Europe have deteriorated to their worst level since the Cold War. Russian forces have yet to fully capture Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, where Ukrainian troops continue to defend a fortified line of cities. Although Russia’s advances have slowed this year, Moscow still controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. After both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a recently declared unilateral ceasefire, President Trump announced a ceasefire from Saturday through Monday, which was supported by both Moscow and Kyiv. The two sides also agreed to exchange one thousand prisoners of war. Speaking in Washington, Trump said he wanted the war to stop, calling the Russia-Ukraine conflict the deadliest war since World War II in terms of casualties. He claimed that around 25,000 young soldiers are dying every month and described the situation as “madness.” Trump also expressed hope that the ceasefire could be extended further. So far, neither Moscow nor Kyiv has reported any new ceasefire violations. European Council President António Costa said last week that there remains a possibility for dialogue between Russia and the European Union, including discussions about Europe’s future security structure. When asked whether he was willing to negotiate with European leaders, Putin said Gerhard Schröder was the most acceptable figure to him. European leaders have consistently argued that Russia must be defeated in Ukraine, warning that if Putin succeeds, he could eventually threaten NATO member states. Russia has dismissed those accusations as baseless. Putin has repeatedly argued that European powers, by supplying Ukraine with large amounts of money, weapons, and intelligence support, are prolonging the war. When asked about the possibility of meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin said such a meeting would only be possible after a permanent peace agreement is finalized.
Ukraine war nearing end: Vladimir Putin
