The past Saturday May 9date on which Russia celebrated its traditional Victory Day (a day in which the triumph of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in World War II is celebrated), the Russian president, pronounced some words that have attracted attention throughout the planet.
After more than four years of duration, Putin hinted that the Ukraine war could be “coming to an end”. These statements by the Russian president could open the door to possible peace negotiations that end the armed conflict.
However, it should be noted that On the same Victory Day, Vladimir Putin himself sent another message which suggests that the possible end of the war in Ukraine is not so close.
Specifically, the Russian president justified the absence of military weapons in the traditional May 9 parade (an event usually attended by Russia) by stating that The Russian army “must focus its attention on the definitive defeat of the enemy (in reference to Ukraine).”
The reasons why Putin might want to end the war in Ukraine
In any case, Putin’s statement that the armed conflict in Ukraine could be “coming to an end” coincides with several negative news for Russian interests that have been known in recent weeks.
The first of them is that russian forcesfor the first time since August 2024, have suffered one in Ukraine. According to data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Moscow lost 120 square kilometers during the month of April due to Ukrainian advances in the three main eastern regions (Zaporijia, Kharkiv and Donetsk).
Another aspect to highlight is that Ukraine has recently managed to carry out large-scale attacks against oil infrastructure located in the interior of Russia, 1,500 kilometers from the front. These types of offensives are a direct consequence of Ukraine becoming one when it comes to design and manufacture of military drones.
Finally, another reason that could lead Vladimir Putin to think about how to put an end to the war in Ukraine is the increasing discontent in the Russian population due to the tax increases (to finance the armed conflict) and the restrictions on internet access.
