New Delhi:Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Ukraine war may finally be near an end, raising new hopes of possible peace talks after more than four years of deadly fighting. Putin told a Victory Day gathering in Moscow on Saturday: “I think the matter is coming to an end”, in what is widely viewed as his strongest hint yet that Russia may be ready for a negotiated phase of the conflict.
He spoke as Russia and Ukraine began a three-day truce proposed by US President Donald Trump. The two countries also agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, in one of the largest prisoner swaps since the war began.
This year the Victory Day parade was different.This year’s annual Victory Day parade in Moscow was noticeably smaller than previous grand military displays. The event did not include tanks rumbling through Red Square. Instead, giant screens showed missiles, drones and fighter jets as Russian soldiers — some fresh from the Ukraine war — marched through the capital.
Putin praised Russian troops in his speech and again accused NATO countries of backing what he called aggressive actions against Russia. Reports also said that North Korean soldiers, who allegedly fought with Russian forces in the Kursk region, participated in the parade.
Putin open to talks, but puts conditionsPutin also suggested that Russia might be open to restarting talks with European leaders. When asked which European leader he would prefer to work with, Putin mentioned former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who has strong ties to Moscow.
He was also asked if he would meet directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Putin said any such meeting would only be possible if both sides first agree on a long-term peace plan.
Trump urges ceasefireMeanwhile, Trump called on both nations to extend the temporary ceasefire and move towards a permanent end to the war. “I’d like to see it stop. “It’s the worst thing since World War Two in terms of life,” Trump told reporters in Washington.
There have been no major reports of ceasefire violations so far, although both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of attacks in recent days.
The war between Russia and UkraineThe Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. Several Ukrainian cities have been badly damaged, hundreds of thousands of people killed or injured and relations between Russia and Western countries have soured sharply.
Zelenskyy responded warily to Russia’s Victory Day commemorations, joking that Ukraine would “permit” the Moscow parade to go on without striking Red Square.