Vladimir Putin has given his strongest signal yet that he is ready to end the war in Ukraine. The Russian president said he believed 'the matter was coming to an end' in a reference to what he has called a 'special military operation'.
Victory Day Speech and Press Conference
Putin used a speech at his nation's pared back Victory Day parade, which took place without the usual display of military hardware, to say Russia was fighting a 'just' war. However, at a later press conference, the dictator told reporters the end of the four-year conflict could be in sight. He claimed the war was a 'confrontation' that had been 'fuelled by the West', the BBC reported.
Potential Meeting with Zelensky
Discussing possible steps towards a permanent ceasefire, Putin said it was possible he could meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in a 'third country'. But he added this would be a final step which could only happen 'once final agreements have been reached on a peace treaty for a long-term historical perspective'.
The Russian leader indicated his preferred interlocutor would be Gerhard Schröder, who served as German chancellor between 1998 and 2005. Schröder, now 82, is a longtime friend of Putin's and has links to Russian state-owned energy firms.
Prisoner Swap and Ceasefire Breaches
Russia and Ukraine swapped 1,000 prisoners as part of a temporary ceasefire brokered for Saturday's parade in Moscow, to commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany. However, Kyiv was accused by Russia of breaching the agreement, while Ukrainian authorities said at least one person had been killed by a Russian drone and artillery attacks in the past day.
Five people were left injured following a Russian strike on a nine-storey apartment block in the industrial district of Oleh Syniehubov, Ukraine's second-largest city. Ukraine's air force said it had intercepted all 27 strike and decoy drones fired by Russia overnight.
Public Speculation
It comes as a clip of Putin sparked discussion that the dictator had been using botox, after he was shown up close with a swollen cheek.
