Moscow, May 10: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he believes the war in Ukraine is “coming to an end”, even as he reiterated that Moscow would pursue its objectives in the conflict.

“I think that the matter is coming to an end,” Putin told reporters, according to Reuters. He added that he was open to discussing new security arrangements in Europe.

The remarks came as the Kremlin said that peace talks backed by US President Donald Trump’s administration were currently paused. Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered the biggest crisis in ties between Moscow and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Putin has repeatedly said Russia will continue fighting until its goals are met in what it calls a “special military operation”.

Speaking about possible negotiations, Putin said his preferred interlocutor would be Gerhard Schroeder. “For me personally… Mr Schroeder is preferable,” he said.

Russian forces control just under one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, though advances have slowed. The war has killed large numbers of people and damaged Ukraine’s infrastructure, while straining Russia’s economy and ties with Europe.

Putin was speaking after a scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow marking the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany.

Both Russia and Ukraine recently accused each other of breaching unilateral ceasefires. However, a three-day truce announced by Donald Trump from Saturday to Monday was backed by both sides, Reuters reported.

“I’d like to see it stop… It’s the worst thing since World War Two,” Trump said. He added that he hoped for an extension of the ceasefire. No violations were immediately reported.

Putin said a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would only be possible once a broader peace agreement is reached.-Agencies