Putin Claims Ukraine War ‘Coming to an End’ as Trump-Brokered Three-Day Ceasefire Takes Effect

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Saturday that the war in Ukraine is “coming to an end,” hours after presiding over a scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow and as a U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine began.

Speaking to reporters, Putin said: “I think the matter is coming to an end,” referring to the conflict now in its fifth year. He also indicated willingness to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country if it advances a long-term peace agreement.

The remarks followed a noticeably restrained military parade on Red Square commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Heavy weapons were absent for the first time in nearly two decades, amid security concerns and the temporary truce.

President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire on May 8, covering May 9-11 and including an exchange of 1,000 prisoners on each side. Both Moscow and Kyiv confirmed participation, though each accused the other of violations involving drones and artillery in the early hours.

Putin used the occasion to criticize Western support for Ukraine, claiming globalist elites had sought Russia’s defeat and collapse. He described the conflict as still serious but heading toward resolution.

The ceasefire aligns with Trump’s ongoing diplomatic push to end the fighting. No immediate extension has been confirmed, and battlefield reports remain mixed as the truce period continues.

The developments come as indirect negotiations have intensified in recent weeks, with both sides facing mounting costs after years of attrition.