Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he thinks the Russia-Ukraine war “is coming to an end,” the same day a three-day ceasefire between the two countries went into effect.
President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire on Friday, saying it would be in effect over the weekend and through Monday. The ceasefire started the same day as Russia held its Victory Day Parade, an annual military celebration that commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
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The parade notably did not feature ground equipment, despite the event historically showcasing Russia’s military prowess. Russian forces recorded a net territorial loss in April, the first time that’s happened since August 2024, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks have been increasingly reaching further into Russian territory, sparking fears that Ukraine could strike within Moscow on the day of the parade.
Russia and Ukraine also agreed to suspend all kinetic activity and exchange 1,000 prisoners each as part of the agreement. Putin identified former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as his preferred, theoretical negotiating partner, while stating that he would be willing to negotiate a new European security framework.
The ceasefire marked a significant accomplishment in Trump’s efforts to broker peace and end the war, as the conflict in Iran continues to overshadow the administration’s foreign affairs. Trump added that “talks are continuing on this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day.”
TRUMP ANNOUNCES THREE-DAY CEASEFIRE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE
This is the first mutual ceasefire since the conflict began on Feb. 24, 2022. Control over the Donbas region remains a major obstacle to negotiating an end to the war.
President Zelensky said in a statement on X that he expects “the United States to ensure that the Russian side fulfills these agreements” during the ceasefire.
