Putin Says Ukraine War Coming to an End

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he believes Russia’s war with Ukraine is “coming to an end,” speaking after a scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow that took place without the usual display of tanks and missiles.

“I think that the matter is coming to an end,” Putin told reporters, referring to what Moscow continues to call its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

The comments came hours after Putin used his Victory Day speech to defend the war, describing it as “just” and accusing Ukraine of being an “aggressive force” backed by NATO. He also criticized Western support for Kyiv, saying Western governments had fueled the confrontation with Russia.

Russia’s annual May 9 parade, marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, was held under heightened security concerns. Authorities had feared Ukraine could target Red Square with drones, leading to a reduced event that lacked the military hardware normally used by the Kremlin to project strength.

A US-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, announced by President Donald Trump, lowered the immediate risk of an attack, and the parade ended without incident.

Putin said he would only meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once a long-term peace treaty had already been agreed. He said a meeting in a third country was possible, but only as a final step to sign a completed agreement.

“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,” Putin said.

He added that he had heard Zelensky was ready for a personal meeting, but said this was “not the first time” such statements had been made.

Putin also said Russia would be willing to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe. He suggested that his preferred negotiating partner would be former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a longtime Putin ally whose ties to Russian state-owned energy firms have made him a controversial figure in Europe.

The remarks come amid tentative signs of renewed diplomatic movement. European Council President António Costa said last week that there could be potential for European negotiations with Russia at the right time, and that Zelensky favored such talks.

As part of the US-led ceasefire agreement, Russia and Ukraine were expected to exchange 1,000 prisoners each. Putin said Saturday that Moscow had not yet heard from Kyiv about the prisoner exchanges.

The parade itself reflected Russia’s security concerns. For the first time in nearly two decades, no major military hardware was displayed in Red Square, and many international media organizations were not granted access.