Putin Praises US Efforts to End Ukraine War, Says Conflict Nearing End

Addressing mediapersons after the Victory Day Parade, Putin said any international effort aimed at facilitating peace was welcome, while emphasising that the conflict ultimately concerned Russia and Ukraine.

"Well, first of all, it concerns Russia and Ukraine. If someone wants to help us, that is good," Putin said.

He specifically acknowledged the role of the current US administration and President of the United States Donald Trump, adding, "We can see that the current US administration and the President of the US sincerely--I would like to emphasise this--sincerely want to settle this conflict."

Putin also noted that Washington had "other priorities," but expressed appreciation for diplomatic engagement, stating, "We are grateful for every effort like this."

Putin claimed that the conflict with Ukraine is "coming to an end" and blamed the "globalist wing of Western elites" for provoking the war in the first place.

The Russian President argued that the West used Ukraine as a tool to pursue its geopolitical ambitions, disregarding Russia's interests.

"They are the ones who wage the war against us with the hands of the Ukrainians. And of course, it's very comfortable for them. They provoked this conflict," Putin said.

He cited Ukraine's EU aspirations and NATO enlargement as key triggers of the ongoing confrontation, claiming that Western leaders had repeatedly misled Russia on their intentions.

Putin also referred to a 2022 agreement with Ukraine in Istanbul, which he claimed Kyiv initially accepted but later refused to sign under Western pressure, particularly from France and the UK.

Putin further stated that "another representative of show business, then the Prime Minister of the UK, travelled to Ukraine. And what did he say? 'You cannot sign this; it's an unfair agreement.' But who is to say what's fair? If the Ukrainian delegation initialled this agreement, then how is it unfair?"

The Russian president reiterated that Western support enabled Kyiv to prolong the conflict and accused the West of overstepping by providing extensive military and political backing to Ukraine.

Despite the protracted war, which is currently in its fifth year, Putin expressed cautious optimism, suggesting that Europe may eventually realign politically and that the conflict could reach a resolution.

"They [Ukraine] were promised assistance, and they started to escalate this confrontation with Russia. I believe that it is coming to an end. Why did it happen? Because they expected to crush Russia and destroy the statehood within a few months, but they failed. And now they got stuck in this," the Russian President said.

"I hope that these political forces will step by step get back to the leadership positions, or they will seize power with the support of the vast majority of European countries," he added.

Putin's remarks come amid rising tensions in Europe and continued international calls for a negotiated settlement to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which entered its fifth year in February 2026, following Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.

On Friday (local time), US President Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, noting that the temporary truce coincides with Russia's Victory Day celebrations commemorating the then-Soviet Union's role in World War II.

Trump said both President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy agreed to the temporary truce.

- ANI