Russian invasion The fighting

Putin: Believes war against Ukraine is coming to an end

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the war in Ukraine is coming to an end, he says, according to Reuters.

Asked if he is willing to hold talks with Europe, Putin replies that he would prefer to speak with Germany's former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

He also says that he will only meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj after a lasting peace agreement has been signed.

Putin also says that he hopes the Iran war ends as soon as possible. If it doesn't, everyone loses, he says.

Russia and Ukraine: Several violations of the ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of several violations of the three-day, US-brokered ceasefire that began on Saturday. However, no major attacks have occurred, writes AFP.

“During the day, the number of attacks by the aggressor has reached 51,” writes the Ukrainian General Staff.

The Russian Defense Ministry writes that “Ukrainian armed groups carried out drone and artillery attacks on the positions of our soldiers,” but does not give a number. Both sides report that a few people have been killed and injured.

US President Donald Trump announced yesterday that Russia and Ukraine will observe a three-day ceasefire between May 9 and 11 in connection with Victory Day, which is celebrated today.

Zelenskyy forbade the Ukrainian military from attacking Red Square in Moscow during the parade, and that order has been followed.

Expert: The war will continue after the ceasefire

The current ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is unlikely to lead to any progress in the peace negotiations. This is what Roger Djupsjö of the Swedish National Defense University tells Sveriges Radio Ekot.

– The only sign we have seen is that Russia is a little weaker, which should make them a little more interested. But I am very skeptical, he continues.

So far, both parties seem to be sticking to the ceasefire agreement and there are no reports that the countries have attacked each other.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to a 72-hour pause in fighting and a prisoner exchange. Trump said at the same time that both countries are eager to end the war.

Roger Djupsjö, however, believes that the war will continue as before when the ceasefire expires.