Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he believes the war in Ukraine is approaching its conclusion, a statement made just hours after he pledged victory during Moscow's most scaled-back Victory Day parade in recent years.
Putin's Remarks on the War's End
"I think that the matter is coming to an end," Putin told reporters regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which is Europe's deadliest since World War Two. He also indicated a willingness to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe, naming former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as his preferred counterpart for such talks.
Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine sparked the most severe crisis in Russia-West relations since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, a time when many feared nuclear war was imminent. The Kremlin has stated that peace talks brokered by the Trump administration are currently paused. Putin has consistently vowed to continue fighting until all of Russia's objectives in what Moscow terms a "special military operation" are achieved.
Context of the Parade and War
Speaking from the Kremlin after outlining his views on the war's origins, Putin blamed "globalist" Western leaders for promising no NATO expansion eastward after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, yet later attempting to draw Ukraine into the European Union's orbit.
His comments came shortly after the May 9 national holiday parade, which commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two and honors the 27 million Soviet citizens who died in that conflict. This year's parade featured a video display of military hardware on giant screens instead of the traditional display of intercontinental ballistic missiles, tanks, and missile systems rolling across Red Square.
Russian troops have been engaged in combat in Ukraine for over four years, surpassing the duration of Soviet involvement in World War Two, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45.
Impact of the War
Putin, who has led Russia as president or prime minister since the end of 1999, faces growing anxiety in Moscow over the war, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, devastated large areas of Ukraine, and strained Russia's $3 trillion economy. Russia's relations with Europe are at their lowest point since the Cold War.
Russian forces have not yet captured the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops have retreated to a line of fortified cities. Although Russian advances have slowed this year, Moscow now controls nearly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
Ceasefire Announcement
After Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating unilateral ceasefires declared in recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire from Saturday to Monday, which both the Kremlin and Kyiv supported. The two sides also agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners.
"I'd like to see it stop. Russia-Ukraine - it's the worst thing since World War Two in terms of life. Twenty-five thousand young soldiers every month. It's crazy," Trump told reporters in Washington. He expressed a desire for "a big extension" of the ceasefire. No violations were reported by either side.
Potential Talks with Schroeder
European Council President Antonio Costa recently stated he believed there was "potential" for the EU to negotiate with Russia and discuss the future of European security architecture. When asked if he would engage in talks with Europeans, Putin indicated a preference for Schroeder.
"For me personally, the former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Schroeder, is preferable," Putin said.
European leaders have insisted Russia must be defeated in Ukraine and have labeled Putin a war criminal and autocrat who might attack a NATO member if allowed to win. Russia dismisses these claims as baseless. Putin, who ordered troops into Ukraine in February 2022, accuses European powers of warmongering for providing Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in support, weapons, and intelligence.
Regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Putin stated a meeting would only be possible after a lasting peace deal is reached.
