Russias War in Ukraine Appears to Be Drawing to a Close

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made comments suggesting that a long-term peace deal with Ukraine may be reached, and he is willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country if the agreement is finalized.

On Saturday, hours after Russia’s most scaled-back Victory Day parade in years, Putin stated that his country’s war on Ukraine “may be coming to an end.” He also expressed a willingness to meet with Zelenskyy outside of Russia, provided that a comprehensive peace treaty is reached.

The remarks came as Russia and Ukraine began a three-day ceasefire and agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners. The developments have raised cautious hopes for renewed diplomatic progress.

At the parade, Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, framing their mission as a “just cause” against an “aggressive force.” He also blamed Western “globalist elites” for the war, stating that they had promised NATO would not expand eastward after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, but then tried to draw Ukraine into the European Union’s orbit.

The annual Victory Day holiday marks the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II and honours the 27 million Soviet citizens who died in the conflict. This year’s parade featured troops from North Korea, a tribute to Pyongyang that sent its soldiers to fight alongside Moscow’s forces to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire running Saturday through Monday, as well as an exchange of 1,000 prisoners. Zelenskyy followed up with a decree permitting Russia to hold its Victory Day celebrations, declaring Red Square temporarily off-limits for Ukrainian strikes.

Putin stated that he could meet with Zelenskyy in another country if a comprehensive peace treaty is finalized, but only after the negotiations are complete. He has previously proposed meeting with Zelenskyy to negotiate a peace deal, but dismissed the idea of coming to Moscow.

The comments from Putin come as Russia faces growing anxiety about the war in Ukraine, which has resulted in significant human losses and economic strain on the country’s economy. Russian troops have been fighting in Ukraine for over four years, longer than Soviet forces fought in World War II.

Source: Al Jazeera