Putin claims end of Ukraine war approaching

Vladimir Putin stated that the Ukrainian war is "approaching its end," according to British publication The Guardian. The Russian leader made this assessment without indicating specific timeframes or conditions for resolving the conflict.

The Russian president's statement came amid ongoing combat operations across Ukrainian territory. Earlier this month, Moscow announced a temporary ceasefire in observance of Victory Day.

The Kremlin has repeatedly made similar claims about a possible near-term end to the war, which began in February 2022. Ukraine and its Western partners point to an absence of any signs of genuine shifts in the parties' negotiating positions.