He would not meet with Zelensky until a lasting peace agreement was already in place
On the eightieth anniversary of Soviet victory in the Second World War, Vladimir Putin stood in a quieter Red Square than the world has grown accustomed to seeing, and offered a carefully measured signal: the war in Ukraine, he said, was approaching its conclusion. Yet the absence of tanks and missiles from the parade spoke louder than any declaration — a reminder that wars do not end simply because leaders say they are ending, and that the distance between a ceasefire and a peace remains one of the most consequential gaps in human affairs.
- Putin's claim that the conflict is 'coming to an end' carries no timeline, no withdrawal, and no concession — only a condition that peace be agreed before he will even sit across from Zelensky.
- A Trump-brokered ceasefire reduced the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes enough to allow the Victory Day parade to proceed, but Russia kept its military hardware off the cobblestones for the first time in nearly two decades.
- A prisoner exchange of a thousand combatants from each side was announced, yet by Saturday Putin acknowledged he had not heard whether Ukraine would follow through — a small measure of trust still unverified.
- European leaders, including EU Council President António Costa, are beginning to signal readiness to engage Moscow diplomatically, suggesting the continent may be preparing to negotiate security arrangements it once considered settled.
- Putin's preferred interlocutor for European talks is Gerhard Schröder, the former German chancellor and longtime Kremlin ally — a choice that reveals as much about the negotiations Putin wants as the ones he is willing to avoid.
Vladimir Putin addressed reporters in Moscow on Victory Day, a holiday devoted to Soviet sacrifice in the Second World War, and offered what sounded like a forecast: the war in Ukraine, he said, was drawing toward its close. The occasion looked unlike any in recent memory. Where tanks and missiles ordinarily filled Red Square, there were only soldiers on foot — the hardware kept away out of fear that Ukrainian drones might strike the capital. A ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump over the weekend had eased those fears enough to allow the ceremony to proceed, but the empty parade ground was itself a statement about vulnerability and the real costs of a war now in its fourth year.
Putin's words about the conflict ending carried weight precisely because of what he withheld. He declared no victory, announced no withdrawal, and set a condition for any meeting with President Zelensky: a lasting peace agreement would have to be in place first. A summit, he suggested, would be a ceremonial closing act, not a starting point. The logic was circular in a way that revealed how far apart the two sides remain.
The ceasefire was narrow. Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to exchange a thousand prisoners each, though Putin acknowledged on Saturday that Russia had not yet heard whether Ukraine intended to follow through. It was a pause, not a treaty — enough to let the parade proceed without incident, enough to let a leader speak of endings while the machinery of war continued.
In his Victory Day address, Putin had framed the conflict as just and necessary, casting Ukraine as an aggressor armed by NATO and Russia as a nation defending itself against Western encroachment — the same narrative that accompanied the full-scale invasion of February 2022, which displaced millions and killed tens of thousands. Four years on, he was suggesting the war might be winding down, on terms and timelines entirely of his own definition.
The diplomatic temperature, however, appeared to be shifting. EU Council President António Costa said publicly that he saw potential for Europe to engage Moscow, and that Zelensky himself favored such talks. Putin, for his part, expressed willingness to negotiate new European security arrangements — though his preferred partner was Gerhard Schröder, the former German chancellor and a longtime Kremlin ally, a choice that signaled something about the kind of peace he had in mind.
Vladimir Putin stood before reporters in Moscow on a day meant to celebrate Soviet triumph in World War Two, and he offered what sounded like a prediction: the war in Ukraine, he said, was drawing toward its close. The occasion was the annual Victory Day parade in Red Square, but it looked unlike any in recent memory. Where tanks and missiles ordinarily rumbled across the cobblestones to demonstrate Russian military might, there were only soldiers on foot. The hardware stayed hidden, kept away because the Kremlin feared Ukrainian drones might strike at the heart of the capital. A ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump over the weekend had eased those fears enough to let the ceremony proceed, but the absence of the usual display was itself a statement—one about vulnerability, caution, and the real costs of a war now in its fourth year.
Putin's words about the conflict "coming to an end" carried weight because of what he did not say. He did not declare victory. He did not announce a withdrawal. Instead, he spoke of a process, something unfolding, something that required negotiation. He condemned the West for arming Ukraine, for what he called fueling confrontation with Russia. But when pressed on the possibility of peace talks, he set a condition: he would not meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky until a lasting peace agreement was already in place. A meeting, he suggested, would be a final ceremonial step, not a beginning. The logic was circular in a way that suggested how far apart the two sides still stood.
The ceasefire itself was narrow in scope. Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to exchange a thousand prisoners from each side, though Putin noted on Saturday that Russia had not yet heard from Ukraine about whether those exchanges would actually happen. This was not a peace treaty. It was a pause, brokered by an American president who had made ending the war a priority. The pause had been enough to allow the parade to proceed without incident, enough to let Putin address the nation on a day devoted to remembering Soviet sacrifice in a different war, a war that had ended more than eighty years ago.
In his Victory Day speech, Putin had framed the current conflict as just and necessary, describing Ukraine as an aggressive force armed by NATO. He positioned Russia as defending itself against a Western bloc determined to confront it. This narrative—of Russia as victim of Western encroachment—had been central to his justification for the 2022 invasion, which followed his seizure of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014. The full-scale assault that began in February 2022 had displaced millions and killed tens of thousands. Now, four years into the conflict, Putin was suggesting it might be winding down, even as the machinery of war continued to grind.
What came next remained unclear, but the diplomatic temperature seemed to be shifting. European leaders were beginning to signal openness to negotiating with Russia. António Costa, president of the European Council, had said publicly that he believed there was potential for the EU to engage Moscow, and that Zelensky himself favored such talks. Costa was consulting with other EU leaders about what Europe might discuss with Russia when the moment seemed right. Putin, for his part, said he would be willing to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe, though his preferred partner was Gerhard Schröder, the former German chancellor and a longtime Putin ally—a choice that itself signaled something about the kind of negotiations Putin envisioned.
The scaled-back parade was a visual reminder of the war's weight. For nearly twenty years, Red Square had been a stage for displaying Russian military power: the tanks, the missiles, the hardware that projected strength. This year, there was none of it. Fewer international journalists were present as well, many having been denied access. What remained was ceremony without spectacle, a muted commemoration of a victory from another era, delivered by a leader claiming that the current conflict was approaching its end—though on terms and timelines that remained entirely his to define.
Notable Quotes
I think that the matter is coming to an end, but it is a serious matter.— Vladimir Putin, at a news conference after the Victory Day parade
A meeting in a third country is also possible, but only once final agreements have been reached on a peace treaty for a long-term historical perspective.— Vladimir Putin, on conditions for meeting with Zelensky
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
When Putin says the conflict is 'coming to an end,' what does he actually mean? Is he signaling he's ready to stop fighting?
Not quite. He's saying the process is moving toward resolution, but he's set a condition: he won't even sit down with Zelensky until a peace deal is already written. So he's not saying he'll stop; he's saying the shape of the ending is becoming visible.
The ceasefire was brokered by Trump. How much does that matter?
It matters enough that the parade happened safely. But a thousand-prisoner exchange agreement is not a peace treaty. It's a gesture, a way of showing both sides can cooperate on something small. Whether it leads anywhere depends on whether either side sees advantage in moving forward.
Why did Putin choose Gerhard Schröder as his preferred negotiating partner?
Schröder is a longtime friend, and he's worked for Russian energy companies. Putin is signaling he wants to negotiate with someone he trusts, someone who understands Russia's perspective. It's also a way of saying the EU might need to step aside and let someone more sympathetic to Moscow take the lead.
The parade had no tanks, no missiles. What does that absence mean?
It means the Kremlin is worried about Ukrainian drones striking Moscow. It's a practical security decision, but it's also symbolic—you can't project military dominance when you're afraid of being attacked at home. The usual show of strength becomes impossible.
Is there actually momentum toward peace, or is this theater?
Both, probably. European leaders are genuinely exploring whether negotiation is possible. But Putin's conditions—that Zelensky agree to terms before they even meet—suggest he's not in a hurry. He may be testing whether the West will pressure Ukraine to accept whatever he's willing to offer.