The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, stated this Saturday that he is willing to meet with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenski, although he conditioned any meeting on the prior establishment of a definitive agreement aimed at a ''long-term'' peace treaty. His statements came amid a new Russian military offensive against Ukraine and during the official celebrations of Victory Day in Moscow.
''It would be possible to meet in a third country, but only if a definitive agreement on a peace treaty is reached, which should be designed with a long-term perspective,'' Putin declared to reporters. The president also stated that the war ''is nearing its end,'' although he warned that the conflict continues to be ''a serious matter''.
In his statements, Putin again blamed Western countries for the continuation of the war, accusing them of intensifying the confrontation with Russia through the political, financial, and military support provided to Kiev since the beginning of the invasion. ''They started to intensify the confrontation with Russia, which continues to this day,'' he noted.
The dialogue proposal came on a day marked by new Russian bombings across various Ukrainian regions. According to Kiev authorities, Russia launched an Iskander ballistic missile and 43 attack drones during the early morning, despite the three-day truce previously announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The attacks particularly affected the regions of Sumy, Odesa, and Chernihiv. At least three people died, including a father and his son, while several others were injured. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that numerous private homes were destroyed or set on fire as a result of the bombings.
In the Chernihiv region, the fire affected a farm and resulted in the deaths of two civilians, in addition to leaving one injured. Emergency teams worked for hours to control the fires and assist those affected, although rescue operations had to be temporarily suspended due to the risk of new attacks.
Images released by Ukrainian authorities showed streets covered in debris, partially destroyed houses, and burned vehicles following the impact of Russian drones and projectiles. The Ukrainian Air Force claimed that it managed to shoot down 34 of the 43 drones launched by Moscow, although nine projectiles hit at least six different points in the country.
The offensive coincided with the Victory Day celebrations in Russia, one of the most important dates on the Kremlin's political and military calendar. This year, the official events in Moscow were held under heavy security measures, with restrictions on communications and without some of the usual massive military displays.
