Ukraine conflict nearing end: Putin
Moscow, May 29
Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that the conflict in Ukraine is nearing an end, as evidenced by the situation on the battlefield, local media reported.
"The situation on the battlefield is developing in such a way that it gives us the right to say that the situation is nearing its end," the Russian head of state said, Russia's state‑owned Tass news agency reported.
He noted that it would be reckless to name a specific timeframe for the end of the conflict in Ukraine. "Regarding the timeframe, I think you and all my other colleagues understand and will understand my answer. Giving specific timeframes during combat is impossible. Not only is it reckless, but it's also practically never done, and I won't do it," Putin said, answering journalists' questions.
Putin said Russia is ready to continue negotiations on Ukraine and has never rejected them. "We've never refused to negotiate. Please, we haven't stopped them; we're ready to continue," he said.
He added that certain contacts are maintained, but there are no negotiations as such.
According to the President, all places that pose a direct military threat to Russia are legitimate military targets.
He argued that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) deceived Russia by saying it would not take a single step to the east.
"The tragedy unfolding in Ukraine is their [the EU countries'] doing, it's the result of their policies. Because it was they who brought about the coup d'état in Kyiv in 2014, which led to Russia's need to protect the people of Crimea, and then - I won't go into details, I've said this many times - to provide assistance to the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, which we didn't recognise for a long time, didn't recognise for years," Putin explained his opinion to journalists.
Meanwhile, in London, representatives of European countries are holding informal consultations on resolving the Ukrainian conflict, Tass noted, citing a diplomatic source.
"Informal talks between European countries on Ukraine are taking place in London today. They're discussing the need to reach an agreement with Russia, the sanctions regime, and other issues," said the source.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting that he mentions NATO's eastward expansion as the root cause. We Indians know a thing or two about being caught between great powers. But blaming the EU for the coup in 2014 oversimplifies things—Ukraine's people also had agency. Time for both sides to stop pointing fingers and think about the human cost. 💔
From a neutral perspective like India's, this sounds like classic wartime rhetoric. "We're winning, but we can't say when it'll end"—that's a balancing act. The informal talks in London are more promising; diplomacy, not missiles, should lead. Let's see if Europe can broker something genuine.
Putin calling Ukraine's places that threaten Russia "legitimate military targets" sounds like a blank check for more strikes. 😬 And the claim that Russia has never refused negotiations—actions speak louder than words. The war has caused a global food and energy crisis; India must stay engaged for peace.
As someone following this from afar, Putin's logic seems flawed. He blames NATO and the 2014 coup, but invading a sovereign nation isn't a proportional response. The "nearing its end" comment could be either optimistic or misleading. Let's hope the London talks yield something concrete.
Respectfully, this is a dangerous narrative. Putin saying the conflict is ending when civilians are still being killed daily seems tone-deaf. India's call for ceasefire and dialogue is spot on—but real peace requires both sides to compromise. The EU talks are a glimmer of hope, but don't hold your breath. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.