Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he believes the conflict in Ukraine is officially ending. His comments came just hours after the smallest victory parade in Moscow in years.
“I think the matter is coming to an end,” Putin told reporters about the Russia-Ukraine war, Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. He also said he would be willing to negotiate a new security arrangement for Europe, and that his preferred negotiating partner would be former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Putin suggested that hostilities between Russia and Ukraine may finally be nearing a conclusion.
A three-day ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump is currently in place, with no reports of violations by either side. The two countries have also agreed to a major exchange of 1,000 prisoners.
Putin said he wanted to meet President Zelensky only when a permanent peace agreement is officially reached. Putin expressed a preference for dealing with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder; Meanwhile, EU leaders are divided, although some see potential for new security talks.
Currently, the conflict has now lasted more than four years – longer than the Soviet Union fought in World War II. The conflict has devastated Russia’s $3 trillion economy and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, causing a “wave of concern” in Moscow.
Russia currently controls only one fifth of Ukraine, but progress has been slow as they have been unable to fully capture the Donbass region.
During the annual Victory Day celebrations, Russia replaced the traditional display of tanks and missiles in Red Square with video footage of military hardware on giant screens. This holiday honors the 27 million Soviet citizens who died during World War II.
Relations are at their lowest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Putin continued to blame ‘globalist’ Western leaders and NATO expansion for the crisis.
Despite the ceasefire, the Kremlin says its “special military operation” will continue until all core strategic goals are achieved. While European leaders described Putin as an autocrat and a potential threat to NATO, Putin rejected these claims and labeled European powers “anti-war” for arming Ukraine.
Following mutual accusations of ceasefire violations, Trump announced a three-day ceasefire which has been supported by both the Kremlin and Kiev.
“I want to see it stop. Russia-Ukraine – this is the worst situation since World War II in terms of lives. Twenty-five thousand young soldiers every month. It’s crazy,” Trump told reporters in Washington.
He said he would “like to see a major extension” of the ceasefire.
