Russian President Vladimir Putin said over the weekend that he believes the war in Ukraine is “coming to an end,” his strongest statement to date about a potential peace deal.
“It’s still a serious matter,” he added.
The comments come as the two countries take part in a three-day ceasefire that included a large-scale prisoner exchange this weekend.
“I think that the matter is coming to an end,” Putin told reporters during Russia’s Victory Day celebrations — a national holiday commemorating the Soviet Union’s 1945 victory over Nazi Germany.
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Putin effectively declared victory in Ukraine during his speech at the military parade, after reportedly expressing an interest in opening talks with European leaders this week.
“I firmly believe that our cause is just. We are together. Victory has always been and will always be ours!” Putin said.
President Donald Trump took credit for requesting the ceasefire in a Truth Social post on Friday.
“This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country. This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” Trump wrote.
The ceasefire began on Saturday, and Trump told reporters he’d like to see it last beyond Monday.
“I’d like to see a big extension,” he said.
Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, an internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, locked the two countries in conflict, but Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 plunged the two nations into an all-out war. The conflict is the deadliest in Europe since World War II.
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