Is the most difficult war on European soil in decades facing a turning point? Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Saturday during a conversation with reporters that the war in Ukraine is nearing an end, and made it clear that his country is not opposed to American mediation.
Putin noted that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had conveyed to him an official proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a personal meeting between the two. However, Putin chose to respond to the proposal in a firm tone that emphasized the balance of power: “Whoever wants to meet – let him come to Moscow,” he clarified, effectively ruling out a meeting on neutral territory or in Kiev.
Putin also stressed that if Ukraine tried to disrupt the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Russia would respond with “massive missile strikes on the center of Kiev.” He said Moscow had even informed foreign partners in advance of the possibility of such a response.
On the operational level, Putin appears to be keeping his foot on the gas. Despite declarations of an end to the war, he has instructed Russian military leaders to “focus their full attention on the final defeat of the enemy.”