Putin says Russia-Ukraine war 'coming to an end,' amid 3-day ceasefire
USA Today • • nation
Key Points:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on May 9 that he believes the Ukraine war is nearing its end and expressed willingness to negotiate new European security arrangements, favoring former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as a negotiating partner.
- Putin blamed Western "globalist" leaders for the conflict, accusing them of breaking promises not to expand NATO eastward and attempting to pull Ukraine into the EU's orbit.
- The May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow was notably scaled back, with military hardware shown via video rather than in person, reflecting ongoing challenges in Russia's war effort in Ukraine, which has lasted over four years.
- Despite Russian advances slowing and control of less than one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire from May 9 to 11, including a prisoner exchange, with no reported violations.
- European leaders demand Russia's defeat in Ukraine and view Putin as a threat to NATO; however, Putin dismisses these claims and indicated he would only meet Ukrainian President Zelenskyy after a lasting peace deal is reached.
