End of the war in Ukraine: Kremlin refuses to specify Vladimir Putins statements

“It is not possible at this time to go into the specific details” of Vladimir Putin’s remarks, the spokesperson for the Russian presidency said.

While Vladimir Putin declared on Saturday that the war in Ukraine was nearing its “end,” the Kremlin stated on Tuesday, May 12, that it was too early to go into the “specific details” of this assertion.

“All the achievements in terms of the peace process make it possible to say that the end is truly approaching. But, in this context, it is not possible at this time to enter into the specific details,” said the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov, during his daily briefing.

He was asked about the remarks made by President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, who surprised by stating that the conflict in Ukraine was “coming to an end” during a press conference on the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. The Russian leader did not elaborate on this comment, which was accompanied by criticism of Western support for Kyiv.

“The president said that Russia remains open to contact and that work has been done in a trilateral format. He said he will welcome the efforts that will follow from the United States,” Dmitry Peskov said.

Negotiations on hold

Negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv under American mediation have been on hold since the start of the war in the Middle East at the end of February. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, which both sides accused each other of violating.

Moscow said it resumed its offensive after the end of this truce which expired at midnight local time on Tuesday (9 p.m. GMT on Monday).

“It can stop at any moment as soon as the Kiev regime assumes its responsibilities and makes the necessary decision,” Dmitry Peskov said, stating that Kyiv “knows very well what decisions are necessary.”

The Russian government is demanding territorial concessions from the Ukrainian government, including a complete withdrawal from the eastern region of Donbass, partially controlled by Moscow. These demands have been rejected by Kyiv, equating them to a surrender.

The large-scale offensive launched in February 2022 has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, becoming the worst conflict in Europe since World War II.