Vladimir Putin has expressed optimism that the war between Russia and Ukraine is approaching its conclusion, describing the conflict as “heading to an end.”
Speaking in Moscow on Saturday after events commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II, Putin addressed journalists amid a temporary three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides also agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners.
The Russian leader criticised Western support for Kyiv, accusing Western nations of escalating tensions with Moscow.
“They spent months expecting Russia to face a devastating defeat and for its statehood to collapse, but that never happened,” Putin said. “Now they are stuck in that position and unable to move away from it.”
Putin claimed Russia had earlier proposed a prisoner-of-war exchange to Ukraine on May 5, providing a list of 500 Ukrainian soldiers allegedly held in Russian custody. According to him, Kyiv initially requested more time to review the proposal and later reduced the number under consideration before eventually suspending discussions.
He added that Russia later embraced a similar initiative put forward by Donald Trump and extended the ceasefire by two additional days in hopes the exchange could proceed.
Putin also stated that he remains open to holding talks with Volodymyr Zelensky, but stressed that any direct meeting should only happen after significant progress has been achieved toward a long-term peace agreement.
“A meeting could happen in Moscow or even in a third country, but only after final agreements on a lasting peace treaty are reached,” he said.
While describing the war as primarily a matter between Russia and Ukraine, Putin acknowledged and welcomed efforts by the United States to support peace negotiations.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, intensifying a conflict that had already existed for years between the two nations.
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