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Putin Suggests Ukraine War is 'Coming to an End' After Scaled-Back Victory Day Parade

From The Guardian · (45m ago) English Mixed tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Vladimir Putin stated that the war in Ukraine is winding down and expressed willingness to negotiate new European security arrangements, potentially with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
  • The remarks came after a scaled-back Victory Day parade and amid anxiety in Moscow about the war's human, economic, and diplomatic costs.
  • A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, announced by both sides and Donald Trump, began Saturday but was marked by mutual accusations of violations.

The Guardian reports on Vladimir Putin's assertion that the Ukraine war is nearing its end, a statement made shortly after a significantly subdued Victory Day parade in Moscow. This claim comes at a time of considerable anxiety within Russia regarding the war's mounting toll – hundreds of thousands killed, vast swathes of Ukraine devastated, and Russia's economy strained.

I think that the matter is coming to an end.

— Vladimir PutinStating his belief that the Russia-Ukraine war is winding down.

Putin's remarks, suggesting a willingness to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe, notably with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, are framed against the backdrop of Russia's deteriorating relations with Europe, now at their worst since the Cold War's nadir. Despite Russian forces controlling nearly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, advances have slowed, and the objective of taking the entire Donbas region remains elusive.

I think it [the war] is heading to an end but it’s still a serious matter.

— Vladimir PutinReiterating his view on the war's progression.

The article notes the announcement of a three-day ceasefire, brokered by Russia, Ukraine, and Donald Trump, which commenced on Saturday. However, this truce has been marred by reciprocal accusations of violations, underscoring the deep mistrust and ongoing hostilities. Putin's comments also touch upon Western support for Kyiv, criticizing it as a continuation of confrontation that has failed to achieve its objective of a Russian collapse.

They spent months waiting for Russia to suffer a crushing defeat, for its statehood to collapse. It didn’t work out.

— Vladimir PutinCriticizing Western expectations regarding Russia's performance in the war.

From a Russian perspective, as reported by The Guardian, the narrative often emphasizes Western escalation and a failure to recognize Russia's security concerns. Putin's framing of the war as winding down, while simultaneously vowing to defeat Ukraine, reflects a complex messaging strategy aimed at both domestic audiences and international interlocutors. The subdued Victory Day parade, with no military hardware on display and few foreign dignitaries, hints at the internal pressures and international isolation Russia faces, even as its leadership projects an image of control and eventual victory.

And then they got stuck in that groove and now they can’t get out of it.

— Vladimir PutinDescribing the West's perceived inability to change its approach to the conflict.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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