The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it was too early to discuss "specifics" regarding the end of the war in Ukraine, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's surprising statement that the conflict was "heading to an end."
Putin's Remarks and Kremlin Clarification
During a speech on Saturday after the World War II victory parade on Red Square, Putin suggested the war was "coming to an end." The parade was a scaled-down event due to Russia's forces being bogged down in Ukraine and fears of a retaliatory attack by Kyiv. However, Putin did not elaborate on his meaning, and his comments were paired with criticism of Western support for Ukraine's army.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed Putin's remarks on Tuesday, stating, "The president said that Russia remains open to contact and that work has been done in a trilateral format. He said that we would welcome continued follow-up efforts from the United States."
Peskov added, "The accumulated groundwork in terms of the peace process allows us to say that the end is drawing near. But in this context, it is not possible at the moment to speak about any specifics."
Stalled Diplomacy and Ceasefire
US-led shuttle diplomacy aimed at brokering trilateral talks has stalled amid the Middle East war. On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire in the conflict, which expired at midnight on Monday.
"You know that the humanitarian ceasefire has ended and the special military operation is ongoing," Peskov told reporters, using Russia's term for its full-scale offensive launched in February 2022.
Conditions for Peace
Peskov indicated that the operation "could be stopped at any moment" as soon as Ukraine "assumes responsibility and makes the necessary decision." He added, "Kyiv is well aware of the decisions that need to be made."
Russia has repeatedly urged Ukraine to pull out of areas in the eastern Donbas region it still controls as a prerequisite for any peace deal. Kyiv has rejected this demand.
Conflict Toll
Now in its fifth year, the war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and spiraled into Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.
