No ‘Specifics’ on Peace Deal After Putin Says Ukraine War Nears End – Kremlin

The Kremlin said it was too early to discuss concrete terms for ending the war in Ukraine, despite President Vladimir Putin claiming the conflict was “coming to an end.” Moscow said fighting continues after a temporary ceasefire expired and repeated demands for Kyiv to surrender territory in Donbas. Make us preferred on Google Flip Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov attend a meeting of Russia's President with Iranian President in Ashgabat on December 12, 2025. (Photo by Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The Kremlin on Tuesday said it was too early to discuss any concrete path to ending the war in Ukraine, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming days earlier that the conflict was “coming to an end.” Speaking after Moscow’s scaled-down Victory Day parade on Red Square, Putin said that “ the Ukrainian conflict is moving toward its end “, though he offered no details on what that would mean in practice. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Asked about the remarks on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were still no specifics to discuss. “The accumulated groundwork in terms of the peace process allows us to say that the end is drawing near,” Peskov told reporters . “But in this context, it is not possible at the moment to speak about any specifics.” Peskov said Moscow remained open to continued contacts, including with the United States, but stressed that Russia’s military campaign was continuing after a temporary ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump expired at midnight Monday. “You know that the humanitarian ceasefire has ended and the special military operation is ongoing,” Peskov said, using the Kremlin’s term for the full-scale invasion launched in February 2022. He added that the war “could be stopped at any moment” if Kyiv accepted Moscow’s demands, including withdrawing from parts of the Donbas region still controlled by Ukraine – a condition Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Other Topics of Interest Victory Parade in Moscow: How to Read Putin’s Words? Russia’s 9 May Victory Day parade sparked debate over Vladimir Putin’s strength and the war in Ukraine. While critics saw the scaled-back event as evidence of Kremlin weakness and declining support, others warned against underestimating Russia’s military capacity. Commentators also noted Putin’s softer rhetoric toward Volodymyr Zelenskyy and growing tensions within Russia’s political and economic elite. Putin’s comments came as the Kremlin attempts to project confidence more than four years into a war that has killed hundreds of thousands and become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. US analyst Paul Goble told Kyiv Post the Kremlin’s messaging appeared aimed more at domestic audiences than genuine peace negotiations. “Putin is floating the idea that his war in Ukraine may be nearing an end not because that is happening, but rather he wants to calm some in Russia about what is happening in Ukraine,” Goble said. According to Goble, the Kremlin is trying to reassure Russians after months of battlefield strain, economic pressure and a Victory Day display that highlighted Russia’s limitations rather than strength. By hinting that the war could be winding down, Putin is also attempting to weaken international momentum behind further military aid for Ukraine, Goble argued. “He wanted to end the war but the West is preventing it,” Goble said, describing what he called a familiar Kremlin tactic of publicly talking about peace while continuing military operations. “Classic Putin statecraft,” Goble added. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.