Putin: War in Ukraine Nears End
Translated from Slovenian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the war in Ukraine is nearing its end.
- He criticized Western support for Ukraine and expressed readiness to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy under specific conditions for a peace agreement.
- Putin also commented on Armenia's potential EU membership, suggesting a referendum would be logical.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Victory Day that the conflict in Ukraine is approaching its conclusion. Speaking after the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Putin asserted that Western expectations of a Russian collapse had not materialized, leaving them in a difficult strategic position.
Mislim, da se (konflikt) bliลพa koncu. Mesece so ฤakali, da bo Rusija utrpela hud poraz, da se bo drลพava sesula. Ni se tako izลกlo. In potem so obtiฤali v tej rutini, zdaj pa se iz nje ne morejo izvleฤi
Putin reiterated Russia's stance, stating that Russian soldiers are confronting an aggressive, NATO-backed force. He drew parallels between the current fight and the victory over Nazism, framing the soldiers' mission as just. The Victory Day parade itself was notably scaled back, with a ceasefire declared for the event, though reports indicate it was not fully observed.
Na podlagi tega bi tudi mi sprejeli svojo odloฤitev
Regarding potential peace talks, Putin expressed openness to meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country, but only when all conditions for a peace agreement are met. This conditionality underscores Russia's position in the ongoing conflict. Putin also touched upon Armenia's potential aspirations for EU membership, suggesting that a referendum would be the appropriate democratic step to ascertain the will of the Armenian people before Russia makes its own decision.
Mislim, da se (konflikt) bliลพa koncu. Mesece so ฤakali, da bo Rusija utrpela hud poraz, da se bo drลพava sesula. Ni se tako izลกlo. In potem so obtiฤali v tej rutini, zdaj pa se iz nje ne morejo izvleฤi
From a Slovenian perspective, as reported by Delo, this statement from Putin is significant. It reflects the Kremlin's narrative of the war's progression and its conditions for peace. The emphasis on the 'just' nature of the fight and the criticism of Western support are key elements of Russian public diplomacy. The mention of Armenia also highlights Russia's continued influence in the post-Soviet space. This coverage provides insight into how the conflict is framed within Russia and its immediate sphere of influence, contrasting with Western media narratives.
Na podlagi tega bi tudi mi sprejeli svojo odloฤitev
Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.