Putin Says Ukraine War Is Winding Down After Scaled-Back Victory Day Parade

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday the war in Ukraine is coming to an end, just hours after overseeing a scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow that featured no heavy armor or missiles. Putin told reporters inside the Kremlin that he thinks "the matter is coming to an end" after more than four years of fighting.

He added that he would be willing to sit down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a neutral country, but only to sign final agreements rather than to negotiate. The comments came as the first day of a U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire took effect.

President Trump announced the truce on Friday, describing it as a potential "beginning of the end" to the conflict. The deal included a prisoner exchange of 1,000 detainees from each side, with both countries agreeing to halt attacks through Monday.

Putin used his Victory Day speech to justify Russia's actions, stating the country is fighting for a "just cause" against what he called an "aggressive force" armed and supported by NATO. He invoked the Soviet Union's World War II victory over Nazi Germany to rally support for troops involved in what the Kremlin terms its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

The annual May 9 parade on Red Square was noticeably smaller than in previous years, with only an Aurus limousine appearing as mechanized equipment and no tanks or nuclear launchers on display. Combat jets conducted a traditional flyover, but the event otherwise featured personnel from military academies marching through the square.

Heavy security blanketed Moscow amid fears of possible Ukrainian strikes, though no attacks were reported during the festivities. Putin stood flanked by these guests while delivering his address. The scaled-back nature of the event contrasted with pre-war Victory Day celebrations that routinely showcased extensive military hardware.

Zelensky issued a decree ordering Ukrainian forces not to attack the parade, stating that returning prisoners was more important than disrupting the event in Red Square. The ceasefire appeared to hold through the day, with no large-scale drone attacks registered on Moscow and a halt to Russian bombardment of Ukraine.

Moscow had repeatedly warned that any strike on the parade would trigger massive retaliation against Ukraine, even urging foreign diplomats to evacuate Kyiv in such a scenario. Putin credited those warnings with helping to produce the ceasefire agreement.

The truce was arranged to coincide with Russia's commemoration of its World War II victory, which fell on the 81st anniversary this year. Trump said he was prepared to send a high-powered U.S. delegation to Moscow as part of intensified efforts to end the conflict.

The president had pushed for the short pause in fighting, which both sides accepted. Mutual accusations of ceasefire violations surfaced on the first day, according to one report, even as overall violence subsided. Putin also expressed hope that the conflict between Iran and the United States would end as soon as possible, though he offered no specifics.

His remarks on Ukraine marked a shift in tone from the Victory Day address, where he denounced NATO and insisted Russia would always be victorious.

“I think that the matter is coming to an end.”

The parade took place even as Western media described it as a reputational setback for Putin given its muted scale compared with past displays of military might. No drone incidents were confirmed in the Russian capital on Saturday, a departure from the daily waves reported in the preceding week.

Russia will always be victorious, Putin declared in his speech, linking the sacrifices of the "greatest generation" in World War II to current operations in Ukraine. The event proceeded without major disruption, closing the first full day of the temporary truce.