Putin makes big claim on Ukraine war after Victory Day parade in Moscow
Putin condemns Nato in scaled-back Victory Day parade address
Vladimir Putin stated the war in Ukraine was “coming to an end” and expressed willingness to negotiate new European security arrangements, indicating Germany’s former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as his preferred negotiating partner.
These comments followed a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on Saturday, where Putin had earlier vowed victory, but which notably omitted the usual display of heavy military hardware amidst concerns over Ukrainian drone strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree permitting Russia to hold the military parade and confirmed Ukrainian forces would not target Red Square, following a three-day ceasefire announced by Donald Trump.
Putin specifically thanked the US for its efforts to end the Ukraine war, praising Donald Trump for sincerely wanting to settle the conflict.
Ukrainians welcomed the temporary three-day ceasefire but emphasised the urgent need for a lasting peace solution, while Zelensky also discussed Ukraine’s EU integration and a US-mediated prisoner exchange with Russia.
