Putin Has Said Russia’s War On Ukraine Might Be “Coming To An End”
Putin is also willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country, but only once a lasting peace deal had been agreed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia’s war on Ukraine might be “coming to an end,” hours after hosting the most scaled-back parade for the Soviet Union's World War II victory.
Each year, Russia celebrates on May 9 its victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, a holiday known as Victory Day, which marks the official surrender of Germany to the Soviet Union in 1945.
For the first time in years, the parade held on Saturday, March 9, had no tanks, armored vehicles or missiles due to security concerns as authorities feared Ukraine might target Red Square with drones, according to BBC.
The parade also featured troops from North Korea, which sent soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces, according to Al Jazeera.
Both Ukraine and Russia have been trading threats in the days leading up to Victory Day, with Ukraine warning it would strike the parade and Russia vowing a “retaliatory strike” would be “inevitable” if it happened.
However, both countries agreed to a last-minute three-day ceasefire brokered by the US from May 9 to May 11, including a 1,000 prisoners swap.
During the parade, Putin said Russia was fighting a "just" war in Ukraine and called Ukraine an "aggressive force" that was being "armed and supported by the whole bloc of NATO,” according to BBC.
Speaking to reporters after the parade, Putin said he thinks the war might be “coming to an end," adding that he is also willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country, but only once a lasting peace deal had been agreed, not as part of the negotiations themselves.
The Kremlin said there were no plans to extend the truce beyond three days.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television that reaching a peace agreement remained "a very long way with complex details."
Trump later told reporters he would like to see "a big extension" of the ceasefire.
"I'd like to see it stop," he said. "Russia-Ukraine, it's the worst thing since World War II in terms of life. Twenty-five thousand young soldiers every month. It's crazy."
Sofia Hou
Flavie Chen
Cherry Mohamed
