Putin Signals Ukraine War May Be Nearing Its End

Speaking to reporters following the annual military parade in Moscow held to commemorate the Soviet Union’s triumph in World War Two, Vladimir Putin indicated that he believes Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine is in its final stages.

“I think that the matter is coming to an end,” he said, referring to what the Kremlin officially calls the “special military operation” in Ukraine, while also criticizing Western nations for their continued backing of Kyiv.

This year’s parade was notably stripped of its usual display of tanks and heavy weaponry, amid fears that Ukraine could use drones to target Red Square.

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However, a last-minute ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump between Kyiv and Moscow helped ease security concerns, and the event concluded without any incident.

Putin’s remarks to the press came just hours after his Victory Day address, in which he framed Russia’s military campaign as morally justified.

In the speech, he described Russia as fighting a “just” war and characterized Ukraine as an “aggressive force” being “armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato.”

When later pressed at the news conference about Western military assistance to Ukraine, Putin said: “They (West) promised assistance and then began fuelling a confrontation with Russia that continues to this day. I think that the matter is coming to an end, but it is a serious matter.”

Russia first seized Crimea and portions of eastern Ukraine in 2014, before escalating to a full-scale war in February 2022.

On the question of a potential meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin said he would only agree to a face-to-face encounter after a final and binding peace agreement had been reached.

“A meeting in a third country is also possible, but only once final agreements have been reached on a peace treaty for a long‑term historical perspective, to take part in this event and sign (treaty), but it must be a final step,” he said.

While acknowledging he had heard that Zelensky was open to a personal meeting, Putin was skeptical, noting that “this is not the first time we have heard such statements.”

Putin also expressed willingness to engage in broader talks around new European security arrangements, naming Germany’s former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as his preferred negotiating partner.

Schröder, a long-time ally of Putin, has remained a controversial figure in Europe due to his close ties with Russian state energy companies.

These comments come on the heels of European Council President António Costa signaling last week that there may be “potential” for the EU to open direct dialogue with Russia, and that Zelensky himself appeared to support such an approach.

Costa reportedly told the Financial Times that he was in consultation with EU leaders on “what we need effectively to discuss with Russia when it comes to the right moment to do this.”

Meanwhile, as part of the US-brokered weekend ceasefire agreement, both Russia and Ukraine committed to exchanging 1,000 prisoners of war each.

However, Putin stated on Saturday that Russia had yet to receive any communication from Ukraine regarding the planned swap.

Saturday’s parade was also historic in another sense. For the first time in nearly twenty years, no military hardware was on display at Red Square, a platform the Kremlin has long used to project its military strength on the world stage.

Access for international media was also significantly restricted, with many global news organizations denied credentials to cover the event.