The Ukraine war coming to an end may no longer be a distant hope, at least according to Vladimir Putin himself. Speaking to reporters shortly after Moscow staged its smallest Victory Day parade in years, the Russian president suggested that Europe’s deadliest conflict since the Second World War could finally be approaching its conclusion.

Putin’s Surprising Admission

In a candid moment with journalists, Putin remarked that he believes “the matter is coming to an end.” The statement, which came on the same day Russia celebrated its annual Victory Day, marks a noticeable shift in tone from the Kremlin’s leader, who has overseen the country either as president or prime minister since the final day of 1999.

While Putin stopped short of announcing a clear path toward peace, he expressed openness to negotiating fresh security arrangements for Europe. Interestingly, he named former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder as his preferred dialogue partner — a choice likely to raise eyebrows across European capitals.

A War That Has Drained Russia

Behind the scenes, anxiety in Moscow has been growing. The conflict in Ukraine has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, reduced large parts of Ukrainian cities to rubble, and placed enormous strain on Russia’s economy. Diplomatic ties between Russia and Europe have plunged to their lowest point since the worst days of the Cold War.

Despite controlling just under one-fifth of Ukrainian land, Russian troops have been unable to seize the entire Donbas region. Ukrainian forces continue to hold their ground at a chain of fortified cities, and Moscow’s territorial gains have noticeably slowed throughout this year.

Blaming the West

Putin did not hold back when discussing Western nations and their continued backing of Kyiv. He accused them of deliberately escalating tensions with Russia and refusing to accept that their hopes of seeing his government collapse never materialized.

According to him, Western powers spent months expecting Russia to suffer a devastating defeat. When that did not happen, he claimed, they became trapped in a cycle of confrontation they no longer know how to escape.

He emphasized that while the war may be drawing closer to a conclusion, the situation remains serious and unresolved.

Conditions for Meeting Zelenskyy

When asked whether he would be open to meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin repeated his familiar stance. A face-to-face meeting, he said, could only happen in a neutral country and only after every term of a potential peace deal had already been agreed upon. In his view, such a meeting should mark the conclusion of negotiations rather than the start of them.

Why Schröder?

Putin’s choice of Gerhard Schröder as a preferred European interlocutor will likely spark controversy. The former German chancellor has long been viewed as a close personal ally of Putin, with deep involvement in Russian business ventures, including the Nord Stream gas pipeline projects. Back in 2022, Zelenskyy publicly described Schröder in scathing terms after the German politician met with Putin and appeared to defend his actions.

The Three-Day Ceasefire

A short-lived three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, announced jointly with former US President Donald Trump, took effect on Saturday. However, the truce has already been clouded by mutual accusations, with both sides reporting drone activity and civilian casualties.

The Kremlin has indicated there are no plans to extend the pause in fighting. As part of the agreement, both nations agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each. Putin, however, mentioned that Russia had not yet received any concrete proposals from Ukraine regarding the swap.

A Quieter Victory Day

This year’s Victory Day parade in Moscow looked dramatically different from previous celebrations. For the first time in nearly twenty years, no military hardware rolled across Red Square. Foreign attendance was sparse, limited mostly to leaders of Russia’s closest allies — including Belarus, Malaysia, Laos, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. The contrast with last year’s event, which featured high-profile guests like China’s Xi Jinping, was striking.

In the days leading up to the parade, the Kremlin appeared visibly concerned about possible Ukrainian disruptions. Moscow even issued threats to strike central Kyiv, including foreign embassies, urging diplomatic missions to evacuate their personnel.

Zelenskyy Marks Europe Day

While Russia celebrated its wartime anniversary, Zelenskyy chose to mark Europe Day, the symbolic foundation date of the European Union. He proudly declared Ukraine a permanent member of the European family.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Europe’s support throughout the war has not been an act of charity but rather a deliberate choice — a decision by European nations to stand alongside courage and strength. Earlier, in a symbolic gesture, Zelenskyy had issued a tongue-in-cheek “decree” granting Moscow permission to hold its parade.

Looking Ahead

Now entering its fifth year, the war continues to be Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II. Yet, signs of diplomatic movement are emerging. European Council President António Costa recently noted there is genuine potential for the EU to engage in negotiations with Russia, particularly around shaping the future of European security.

Whether Putin’s words about the Ukraine war coming to an end translate into meaningful action remains uncertain. For now, both sides remain locked in a fragile balance of fighting and faltering diplomacy — but the door to peace, however slightly, appears to be cracking open.