Putin makes bombshell Ukraine war statement as coup fears soar | World | News

Vladimir Putin has claimed the war “is coming to an end” as he faces the grim reality of punishing missile and drone strikes from Ukraine. The Russian dictator also mentioned Volodymyr Zelensky by name – a rare event – and acknowledged they could meet to seal a peace deal.

“I think the matter is coming to an end,” he said, referring to the war he started more than four years ago.

He dressed up the prospect of halting the conflict as due to the West’s failure to inflict a “crushing defeat” on Russia, avoiding mention of his own military humiliation in failing to grab Ukraine, which has lately pummelled his key infrastructure.

For the first time in almost a year and a half, he uttered the Kyiv leader’s name, saying: “I simply heard again that the Ukrainian side, Mr Zelensky, is ready to hold a personal meeting.” Unusually, he did not brand him an “illegitimate” president.

Putin repeated his tired formula that he would meet Zelensky in Moscow — but added that they could meet in a “third country” to clinch a peace deal.

He said: “I’m not proposing this meeting, but if someone does, please let whoever wants to meet come, let them come to Moscow, and we’ll meet.

“We could meet in a third country, but only after final agreements have been reached on a peace treaty, which should have a long-term historical perspective.”