Kathrine Frich
Promises are easy to make when everyone is watching.
Keeping them once the cameras look away is an entirely different story.
Right now, an international agreement is falling apart before it even has a chance to begin.
Putin speaks out
Speaking after Russia’s Victory Day events, Putin claimed he believes the war in Ukraine is “coming to an end.”
“I think the (war in Ukraine) is coming to an end,” the Russian president told journalists at the Kremlin according to Kyiv Independent.
Putin once again blamed the West for the conflict, claiming that a “globalist wing of Western elites is fighting against us through the hands of Ukrainians.”
Parade without tanks
This year’s Victory Day parade looked far smaller than previous celebrations.
For the first time in years, Moscow avoided displaying tanks and major military hardware on Red Square, relying instead on large video screens showing footage of military equipment.
North Korean troops marched during the parade, highlighting Moscow’s deepening ties with Pyongyang.
“Victory has always been ours, and it always will be!” Putin declared during his speech.
Ceasefire collapses
Despite a supposed three-day ceasefire announced by Moscow, fighting continued across Ukraine.
Regional officials said Russian strikes killed at least one civilian and injured at least 19 others over the past day.
Ukraine’s military also reported 147 combat clashes along the front line during the truce period.
A Russian drone reportedly struck a residential building in Kharkiv, while attacks damaged homes and infrastructure in several Ukrainian regions.
Peace talks stalled
Putin said he would potentially meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a third country to finalize a peace agreement, though not for negotiations themselves.
Meanwhile, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov claimed peace talks cannot move forward unless Ukraine abandons territory in the Donbas region.
Kyiv has repeatedly rejected surrendering additional land and instead continues calling for an unconditional ceasefire along the current front lines.
The Kremlin also confirmed it expects US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Moscow again soon for further discussions.
Sources: Kyiv Independent, Russian state media, Ukrainian regional authorities
