The declaration comes only a day after Russia and Ukraine confirmed a United States-brokered deal that included a three-day truce and a massive prisoner swap involving 1,000 captives from each side.
Russian head of state Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he feels the conflict in Ukraine is nearing its conclusion and there might be movement on discussions after more than 4 years of warfare.
Putin’s remarks came as Russia and Ukraine launched a US-backed three-day truce and agreed to swap 1,000 inmates each in one of the largest exchanges since the conflict began.When asked about the confrontation, Putin told reporters, “I assume that the matter is involving an end.”
The comments came as Russia marked its Triumph Day in Moscow, with security stepped up on fears of imminent Ukrainian assaults. This year’s Red Square procession was much smaller than past iterations, with no storage tanks moving with the supplies. Rather Russia displayed high-tech tools systems, drones and boxer aircraft on huge screens and state broadcast.
In an eight-minute address, Putin lauded Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and blamed NATO for supporting a “hostile force” against Moscow. The North Korean troops who fought with Russian forces in the Kursk area also took part in the event, it is said.
The Kremlin leader’s comments have in fact grabbed notice since they follow a period when diplomatic activity around the war looks to be rising. The Financial Times reports that European leaders are preparing the ground for possible negotiations with Moscow. Asked if he would be willing to talking to Europe, Putin said his preferred contact would be former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
In fact, the Kremlin has stuck to the line that European countries severed links with Moscow once Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and any resumed dialogue must begin from the European side.
U.S. President Donald Trump also called for a prolonged halt to fighting, hoping the brief truce may be extended.I’d want to see it stop. “Russia-Ukraine – it’s the worst point since World War 2 in terms of life,” Trump told reporters in Washington.
Although both sides levelled similar charges of ceasefire transgressions in recent days, there were no immediate indications of major breaches when the latest truce took effect.
The war, started by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has really ended up being the bloodiest disagreement in Europe considering that World War II. Hundreds of people have been murdered or wounded, towns throughout Ukraine have been damaged and Russia’s relations with the West have plummeted to Cold War-era lows.
The Triumph Day activities got a very cautious response from Ukrainian Head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who joked that Ukraine would allow Russia’s parade to go ahead and that Ukrainian weapons would not strike Red Square.
