The Kremlin has repeated remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin suggesting that the war in Ukraine is “almost over,” even as Ukrainian officials reject any suggestion of de-escalation.
The comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts led in part by Donald Trump to broker a potential peace agreement between the two sides.
Speaking to reporters, Vladimir Putin said the war in Ukraine was “coming to an end,” describing the situation as nearing completion.
The Kremlin later reinforced this position, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying that ongoing diplomatic groundwork involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States could support a future peace process.
Peskov said the accumulated efforts in negotiations suggest “the completion is indeed approaching,” although he did not provide a timeline.
He added that Russia would be open to further U.S.-led mediation efforts and that Putin could meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy once a formal peace framework is reached.
Ukraine rejects Russian narrative
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pushed back strongly against Moscow’s claims, saying Russia has no intention of ending the war.
“Russia has no intention of ending this war. And we are, unfortunately, preparing for new attacks,” Zelenskiy said.
Kyiv maintains that any peace agreement must include a full withdrawal of Russian forces, while Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine cede additional territory currently under Russian control.
Ongoing diplomatic efforts
The United States has been attempting to facilitate negotiations through multiple rounds of talks, but no comprehensive agreement has been reached so far.
Donald Trump has been involved in encouraging dialogue between the two sides, although significant gaps remain in their positions.
Russia currently occupies around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, making negotiations highly complex and politically sensitive.
Both sides had previously agreed to a brief U.S.-mediated ceasefire from May 9 to May 11, coinciding with the anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War Two.
While large-scale airstrikes were reportedly limited during that period, both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of continued drone and artillery attacks along the front lines.
Despite the temporary pause, fighting has persisted, highlighting the fragility of any potential ceasefire arrangement.
