Putin makes unexpected turn with Europe: I would like Schröder as a negotiator, the war in Ukraine is ending

"Slovak Prime Minister Fico told me that Zelensky is ready to meet with me personally. We can meet in a third country, but only after an agreement on a lasting peace is reached. I believe that the conflict in Ukraine is coming to an end," Putin declared.

A different Putin, who restores the possibility of negotiations that previously seemed blocked.

It is evening when the Russian president speaks to reporters, shortly after meeting face-to-face with Fico, the only European leader to visit Moscow this year after Kiev, laying a flower at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and meeting with Putin. The move has drawn criticism from German President Merz, but for Putin it conveys Zelensky's "message": a meeting that could pave the way for an end to the war.

Essentially, the idea of ​​a meeting only after an agreement is a familiar Kremlin card, between delegitimizing Zelensky and getting closer to Trump. But after recent developments, including the first ceasefire in 50 months of war, this appears to be a new political move.

During the parade, Putin briefly mentioned the war in Ukraine, speaking of Russian soldiers "facing an aggressive force supported by NATO" and adding that "victory will be ours."

In front of reporters, he struck a different tone, expressing readiness to resume relations with Europe, which has remained outside the negotiations.

According to him, Russia has “never refused” dialogue with the EU. He even proposed former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a mediator, or “another leader trusted by the parties.”

He expressed gratitude for the US efforts, but emphasized that the issue concerns only Russia and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the parade on Red Square took place in a smaller format, without the great leaders of previous years, without rockets and without tanks, in a tense atmosphere and with tight security measures due to fears of Ukrainian attacks.

In his speech, Putin remembered the 27 million Soviets who died in World War II and asked for a minute of silence, while only a few leaders of allied countries such as Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were present.

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