RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the conflict in Ukraine may be nearing an end, raising the prospect of renewed diplomatic engagement as international pressure intensifies for a negotiated settlement to Europe’s most devastating war in decades.
Speaking amid ongoing discussions over potential peace arrangements, Putin indicated that Moscow viewed the conflict as entering its closing stage, although he maintained that any direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy would depend on the prior establishment of a formal peace framework acceptable to both sides.
According to remarks attributed to the Russian leader, a face-to-face meeting with Zelenskiy would only be possible once substantive agreements had already been reached through broader diplomatic channels.
Reuters reported on Sunday that the Kremlin leader also appeared to signal a preference for engaging European interlocutors through former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who has long maintained close ties with Moscow and previously played a significant role in Russia-Europe energy relations.
Putin’s comments come more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, triggering the largest military conflict in Europe since the Second World War and leading to extensive Western sanctions, geopolitical tensions and a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
The war has reshaped Europe’s security landscape, strained relations between Russia and NATO members, and contributed to global economic disruptions affecting energy, food supplies and international trade.
Although no detailed peace proposal has yet emerged publicly, Putin’s remarks are likely to fuel speculation over whether Moscow is seeking to create conditions for eventual negotiations following years of military confrontation and diplomatic deadlock.
Kyiv has repeatedly insisted that any settlement must preserve Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, while Western governments continue to support Ukraine militarily and financially amid ongoing hostilities.
The Kremlin has not provided a timeline for potential negotiations, and fighting continues across several fronts despite intermittent diplomatic contacts involving international mediators and European leaders. - May 10, 2026
