Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the war in Ukraine may be “heading to an end,” even as fighting continues and a fragile ceasefire shows signs of strain, according to Euro News.
Speaking during Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on Saturday, Putin suggested he is open to talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but only if they are aimed at sealing a final peace agreement. He stressed that any meeting should mark the conclusion of negotiations, not the beginning.
The comments came as a three-day ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump, took effect. While no large-scale strikes were reported, both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violations. Drone activity and civilian casualties continued, casting doubt over the truce’s effectiveness.
Putin used the annual parade, which marks the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, to defend Russia’s actions in Ukraine. He described the war as a fight against an “aggressive force” backed by NATO and insisted that Russia’s goals remain “just.” For years, he has drawn parallels between World War II and the current conflict to rally domestic support.
This year’s parade, however, was noticeably subdued. Security concerns following recent Ukrainian long-range attacks led authorities to scale down the event. There was no display of heavy military equipment, and only a small group of foreign leaders attended, mostly from allied nations.
Despite Putin’s cautious tone about ending the war, conditions for peace remain unclear. Moscow said there are no current plans to extend the ceasefire, and disagreements persist over key issues, including prisoner exchanges. Although both sides have discussed swapping 1,000 prisoners each, Russia claims it has yet to receive formal proposals from Kyiv.
Now in its fifth year, the war has killed hundreds of thousands and become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. For many, Putin’s words offer a hint of hope but the reality on the ground suggests peace is still distant.
