Putin says Ukraine war might be coming to an end, mentions condition for meeting Zelensky

He also hoped that the Iran conflict would end as soon as possible but that if it did not then everyone would lose out.

Updated on: May 10, 2026, 06:50:27 IST

Edited by Aryan Mudgal

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said he believed the conflict in Ukraine was coming to its end. He also hoped for the Iran conflict to end soon and said that everyone would lose out if it failed to happen.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin gives a speech during the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in Moscow. (AFP)

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to the biggest breakdown in ties between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, a period when fears of a nuclear conflict had spread across the world.

ALSO READ | Suspension of kinetic activity, prison swap: Inside the 3-day ceasefire between Russia, Ukraine announced by Trump

Russia-Ukraine war coming to an end?

"I think that the matter is coming to an end," Putin told reporters while speaking about the war in Ukraine.

When asked whether he was open to talks with European leaders, Putin said his preferred person for discussions was former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

The Financial Times reported on Thursday that European Union leaders were getting ready for possible negotiations.

Putin’s condition for meeting with Zelensky

The Russian president said on Saturday that he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky only after a permanent peace agreement had been finalised.

Last week, the Kremlin said European countries would have to take the first step because they had cut ties with Moscow in 2022 after the Ukraine war began.

Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in place

Moscow and Kyiv both agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire during Russia’s annual Victory Day parade in Red Square, following a late appeal by US President Donald Trump. Moscow had warned of a "massive" strike on central Kyiv if Ukraine tried to disrupt the event.

Putin has turned the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II into a key part of his 25-year rule, and the parade is usually held on a grand scale.

Zelensky signed a decree on Friday directing the Ukrainian military not to target the parade. In another statement, he confirmed that Kyiv would follow the ceasefire so that 1,000 detainees from each side could be exchanged.

With inputs from agencies

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aryan Mudgal
Aryan Mudgal is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly three years of experience. He is part of the digital news team at HT and enjoys covering day-to-day news and writing long, detailed explainers on key national and global affairs. He takes particular interest in reading and writing about Indian politics, crime, civic issues, as well as global affairs. He goes berserk when covering elections, especially Lok Sabha and assembly polls, and always looks out for fresh stories that could intrigue readers. At Hindustan Times, Aryan has covered various major events, including the Bihar assembly elections, Maharashtra civic polls, the US' military action in Venezuela, Union Budget, and Bangladesh elections. He has previously worked with the explainers team at Firstpost and the news desk at Times Network, covering a range of events including the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Israel–Hamas war, Russia-Ukraine war, Bangladesh’s student protests and Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, Delhi assembly elections, and more. He completed his bachelor’s degree in CEP (Communications & Media, English, and Psychology) from Christ University, Bengaluru, and later pursued a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). He hails from Siliguri in West Bengal and enjoys reading about politics and day-to-day issues concerning the state. Outside of work, Aryan loves listening to music and enjoys rewatching his favourite comfort shows.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.