Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Russia is ready for peace talks, suggesting the conflict is nearing an end. He accused Ukraine of targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly oil refineries, to disrupt Russia's energy sector and tourism.
The statements signal a potential shift in rhetoric regarding the ongoing conflict, with Russia indicating a readiness for negotiations while also highlighting its response to Ukrainian strikes on its energy infrastructure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia is ready for peace talks and believes the conflict in Ukraine is nearing its end. Putin accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly oil refineries, as a tactic to disrupt Russia's energy sector and tourism industry, especially as Russian forces advance on the battlefield.
Several Russian oil refineries have suspended operations for maintenance following recent Ukrainian drone attacks, leading Moscow to implement restrictions on domestic fuel markets in regions including Saratov, Tver, Omsk, Voronezh, Crimea, and Tatarstan. Ukraine's General Staff claimed its forces had struck 16 major Russian oil refineries and fuel terminals, taking more than 30% of refining capacity offline.
Putin's comments suggesting the conflict could be concluding came after a scaled-back Victory Day parade, which reportedly lacked military hardware due to fears of Ukrainian attacks. A US-brokered ceasefire was in place for the event, though both sides later accused each other of violations. Putin reiterated that he would only meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once a lasting peace deal was agreed upon, and expressed willingness to negotiate new European security arrangements, naming former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a preferred partner.
European Council President António Costa indicated that the EU sees potential for negotiation with Russia, and that Zelensky favors such a move. As part of the recent ceasefire, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a prisoner swap of 1,000 individuals from each side, though Putin stated Russia had not yet received confirmation from Ukraine regarding exchanges.