Russian President Vladimir Putin said he believes the conflict in Ukraine may be nearing its conclusion as Moscow and Kyiv began a temporary ceasefire and prepared a large prisoner exchange.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he believes the war between Russia and Ukraine could be approaching its final phase, offering one of his clearest public signals yet that Moscow sees a potential path toward ending the conflict after more than four years of fighting.
“I think it’s coming to an end, but it’s still a serious matter,” Putin told reporters in Moscow during events marking Russia’s Victory Day commemorations honoring the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
The remarks came as Russia and Ukraine agreed to implement a temporary ceasefire from May 9 through May 11 while also preparing a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 1,000 prisoners from each side.
President Donald Trump announced the agreement Thursday, describing the negotiations as part of broader efforts to bring the war to a close.
“Talks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on May 8.
The ceasefire coincided with Russia’s annual Victory Day observances in Moscow. Unlike previous years, however, celebrations featured a reduced military display, with large-scale armored vehicle parades noticeably absent from the capital.
Putin said the decision reflected operational priorities tied to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“We decided that we would definitely hold festive events, but without the demonstration of military equipment, not only for security reasons, but above all because the armed forces must focus their attention during the final flare-up of the enemy as part of a special military operation,” Putin said during remarks to journalists Saturday.
Although both sides agreed to temporarily halt combat operations during the holiday period, major disagreements remain unresolved.
Russian forces currently control approximately 20 percent of Ukraine’s pre-2014 territory, including large portions of eastern and southern Ukraine. Moscow has continued pressing Kyiv to surrender the remaining Ukrainian-controlled areas of the Donbas region, particularly in Donetsk Province.
Ukraine has repeatedly rejected those demands.
Negotiations held earlier this year in Geneva ended without a breakthrough after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of intentionally obstructing progress during talks held Feb. 18.
During his latest press conference, Putin again criticized Western military and financial backing for Ukraine, arguing that foreign involvement had prolonged the war.
Asked whether he would consider direct discussions with current European leaders, Putin instead pointed to former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as someone he would prefer to engage with politically.
Schröder, who served as Germany’s chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has maintained a longstanding relationship with Putin and was previously a strong supporter of the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany.
The temporary ceasefire and prisoner exchange mark one of the largest coordinated humanitarian agreements reached since the war escalated into full-scale conflict. Whether the arrangement develops into broader negotiations remains uncertain, though officials on both sides have acknowledged increasing international pressure to pursue a negotiated settlement.