The words of the Russian president

Putin: the conflict in Ukraine is coming to an end, ready to negotiate with the EU

The traditional 9 May ceremony saw Putin busy between commemorations, solemn speeches and a series of diplomatic meetings at the Kremlin. In the evening the opening towards the EU: 'I would rather negotiate with Schroeder'

9 May 2026

Il presidente russo Vladimir Putin parla durante la parata militare in occasione del Giorno della Vittoria via REUTERS

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The anniversary of the Great Patriotic War
Putin: "In Ukraine aggressive force supported by the whole of NATO"
Victory Day, for Putin speech and bilateral meetings
Kremlin: "Crisis solution still a long way off"

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

"I believe that things are coming to an end" regarding the conflict in Ukraine. This was said by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, according to the Russian news agency Tass. Russia, the Kremlin leader said again, commenting on European Council President Antonio Costa's proposal to start a dialogue with Moscow, "has never refused" to hold negotiations with the EU. "As a candidate for the role of negotiator," Putin added, "I would prefer former German Chancellor Schroeder. Otherwise, let them choose a leader they trust'.

The Russian president's surprise words come at the end of a day when Russia celebrated on Red Square the parade for the 81st anniversary of the victory over Nazi-fascism.

As is tradition, the event opened with a picket procession carrying the Russian and Soviet Union flags, presented as the one raised in Berlin on the day Moscow troops took control of the capital of the Third Reich.

The anniversary of the Great Patriotic War

Putin, who spoke to some veterans of what is called the Great Patriotic War in Russia, was accompanied by foreign dignitaries attending the ceremony.

The surrender of the German forces was signed in the late evening of 8 May 1945 (already on 9 May in Moscow), following the previously agreed surrender with the Allied forces on the Western Front, who in fact celebrated V-Day on this date; the Soviet government announced the victory on the morning of 9 May, after the ceremony in Berlin.

Ucraina, Trump: "Mi piacerebbe che la guerra finisse. È la cosa peggiore dal secondo conflitto mondiale"

Putin: 'In Ukraine aggressive force backed by NATO'

The example of the Soviet soldiers who gave their lives to defeat Nazi-fascism today "inspires the soldiers carrying out their duty in the special military operation" in Ukraine and "resisting against an aggressive force that is supported by the entire NATO bloc", Russian President Vladimir Putin said, speaking during the parade on Red Square. Putin added that the fate of the country would not be decided by the soldiers alone, but by the entire Russian people. "Remaining united, victory will always be ours," the Kremlin chief concluded.

"The Russian military engaged in the Ukrainian conflict is facing a force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc," Russian President Vladimir Putin added.

Kremlin: 'Crisis solution still a long way off'

A solution to the Ukrainian conflict is still a long way off, as is the one concerning Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "It is clear that the American side is in a hurry, but the issue of the solution to the Ukrainian conflict is too complex. Reaching an agreement, a peace agreement, is a very long path, with complicated details," Peskov explained.

The same applies to the resolution of the conflict with Iran: 'It will be a long and difficult process for the United States, as will the resolution of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine', Putin's spokesman had concluded, before the Russian president himself, in the evening, pronounced words of openness towards the EU to journalists, still to be deciphered and metabolised by the European leaders, who on the talks with the Kremlin's tsar may have positions that do not yet coincide.