Moscow: Vladimir Putin on Saturday claimed the Ukraine war is drawing to a close, strongly criticising Western aid to Kyiv as mutual accusations of violations overshadowed the initial day of the US-negotiated ceasefire.
The Russian President fielded questions after rallying troops at Moscow’s notably scaled-back Victory Day parade, where he depicted their Ukraine operations as a stand against a fully NATO-backed “aggressive force,” affirming that the aims of Kremlin’s war were unequivocally “just.”
Putin disclosed alerting India, China and US leaders to Ukraine threats against Kyiv embassies, facilitating the three-day truce on Victory Day, the anniversary of erstwhile Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
Putin outlined discussions with partners to curb wider risks near command hubs.
“We started working with our major partners and friends, primarily with our friends from the People’s Republic of China, India and some other nations including the US administration,” Putin said.
“We simply showed our friends, colleagues, and partners how the situation could unfold. We don’t want to strain ties with anyone. The risk stems from Kyiv’s command centres sitting right next to diplomatic missions — dozens of them, in fact. That’s the core issue. In talks with the US administration, we highlighted this, spelled out the fallout, and urged them to secure their embassy,” the Russian President added.
Putin’s 25-year tenure hinges on Soviet World War II victory lore, repeatedly used to rationalise the Ukraine push.
Parades brim with splendour yearly, but recent Ukrainian strikes drove security boosts and event shrinkage.
Asked if West’s Ukraine aid overstepped, Putin replied: “They started ratcheting up the confrontation with Russia, which continues to this day. I think it (the conflict) is heading to an end but it’s still a serious matter.”
“They spent months waiting for Russia to suffer a crushing defeat, for its statehood to collapse. It didn’t work out. And then they got stuck in that groove and now they can’t get out of it,” Putin said about the West.
He is ready to meet Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in a third locale post-peace preconditions: “This should be the final point, not the negotiations themselves.”
Following two earlier truce failures this week, US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that a new three-day ceasefire would take effect starting Saturday.
Accusations flew between capitals, without major blows despite drones, casualties.
“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War,” Trump said on Truth Social.
