Kiev bargaining: Putin said that the Ukrainian crisis is nearing completion

The conflict with Ukraine is approaching its final point, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the evening of May 9 at a meeting with journalists in the Kremlin. According to him, Western countries that supported Kiev began to unleash a confrontation with Moscow, but their expectations of destroying Russian statehood failed. However, some European countries, such as Slovakia, continue their dialogue with Russia, including for the sake of finding ways for a Ukrainian settlement. On May 9, the Russian President held talks with Prime Minister Robert Fico. The Slovak parliament notes that Bratislava can become a new mediator in resolving the crisis.

The problem of dialogue with the West

Victory Day and the memory of the defeat of Nazi Germany have once again become an occasion to reflect on the future of Russia's relations with Europe. At a press conference following the Red Square parade and bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, many journalists asked Vladimir Putin how he assessed the current situation and whether further dialogue with the Europeans was possible. Izvestia asked what could ultimately lead to attempts to put pressure on politicians who were going to visit Moscow to celebrate Victory Day, as well as belittling the role of the USSR in the victory over Nazism in World War II.

—That's stupid. This can lead to poverty in the end," Vladimir Putin stressed.

The stronger Russia becomes, the faster attempts to belittle the USSR's contribution to the victory over Nazism will come to naught. In general, this is due to the revanchist sentiments of the globalist elites, who tried to inflict a quick defeat on Russia back in 2022, the Russian leader believes.

— In their opinion, everything should have fallen apart within six months. Businesses should have stood up, the banking system should have stopped working, millions of people should have been on the streets," the Russian president noted, noting that Russia still has the lowest unemployment rate among all G20 countries.

At the same time, the President expressed confidence that the Ukrainian conflict is now coming to an end. He recalled that the 2014 crisis broke out after Ukraine refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union. At the same time, the most important root cause of the Ukrainian conflict was the lies of the West, which promised not to expand NATO to the East.

— I think that the case is coming to an end, but still this is a serious thing. The question arises: why did they expect Russia's crushing defeat? We know very well that the collapse of statehood has not been achieved for several months. And then they got into this rut and couldn't get out of it. That's the problem," Vladimir Putin said.

At the same time, Europe today often talks about the need to restore dialogue with Russia. According to the Russian president, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could become a European negotiator. However, the president again hinted that it would be possible to talk to Europe only when there is a change of elites.

— We have always built relations with Europe on the principles of mutual respect and consideration of interests. This is not an empty diplomatic phrase — that's exactly what we did. This is not always the way people talk to Europe today, but this is the only way we have always talked. But it didn't seem enough. I hope that the realization that this was a mistaken position has already been identified and will gain momentum and strength," he said.

Dialogue with the United States and the truce issue

In the meantime, it has been possible to restore a permanent dialogue, although not completely smoothly, with the United States after the return of Donald Trump to the White House. Washington has repeatedly stated its desire to achieve a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Vladimir Putin confirmed that the United States is striving to resolve it.

— The current US administration and the President of the United States sincerely, I want to emphasize this, sincerely strive for a settlement, they clearly do not need this conflict, they have many other priorities. We are only grateful to them for this. But this is primarily a matter for Russia and Ukraine," Putin said.

Earlier, Russia supported Trump's initiative to extend the truce until May 11, although initially the Russian Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire for May 8-10. At the same time, Vladimir Zelensky threatened drone strikes on Moscow on Victory Day. In response, Russia threatened to strike at the center of Kiev.

Vladimir Putin said that Moscow had warned Washington of possible consequences and asked it to do everything necessary to ensure the security of their country's diplomatic mission.

— As a result of all these discussions, the initiative of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, for an additional two days of truce and exchange of prisoners of war in these two days arose. We immediately agreed with this, especially since, in my opinion, this is a justified proposal and dictated by considerations of respect for our common victory over Nazism," Putin said.

On May 5, Russia handed over to Ukraine an offer for a prisoner exchange and sent Kiev a list of 500 Ukrainian military personnel. Putin added that Kiev had initially expressed interest in the proposal and said it needed to be considered "more closely." However, Ukraine later abandoned the idea.

Putin's bilateral meetings

The topic of the Ukrainian settlement was discussed at a bilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have been suspended, and no agreement has been reached on the next rounds. Fico promised to convey to Vladimir Putin a "message" from Vladimir Zelensky, with whom he met on May 4 in Yerevan at the summit of the European Political Community. However, according to Putin, Fico simply informed him about the last conversation with Zelensky.

"There was no special message from Zelensky, I heard once again that Zelensky is ready to hold a personal meeting, we have never refused this, whoever wants to meet, let him come to Moscow," Putin said.

Slovakia, however, emphasizes that Bratislava seeks to become an intermediary between Moscow and Kiev.

"I believe that Robert Fico is currently acting as a kind of mediator on a number of issues, and I believe that the situation will move in a positive direction," Tibor Gaspar, Deputy Chairman of the National Council of Slovakia, told Izvestia.

The Slovak leader's visit to Russia again, as in the previous year, faced criticism from European countries. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz even promised to talk to Fico after his visit to Moscow. However, the Slovak prime minister admitted that this time, unlike last year, it was even "a little easier."

Anyway, the negotiations lasted more than an hour and a half. Putin and Fico discussed the prospects for resuming the work of the Russian-Slovak intergovernmental commission, which has not met since November 2021. Its creation is a likely scenario, says Vadim Trukhachev, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.

— Most likely, such a commission will be created. But we must keep in mind a number of reservations. In relations with any European country, there is always a risk of a change of power to a less convenient Russia. Therefore, such a commission will work with Slovakia while Fico is in power. And he will immediately cease his work as soon as he is replaced by a Euro-Atlantic politician. The presence of such a commission is rather a general indicator of the willingness to develop a relationship at a given time. I would not expect too much from her, because the EU has a very serious constraint, and Fico will not be able to circumvent it," the analyst told Izvestia.

In addition to Fico, the Russian leader held a meeting with the new President of Republika Srpska, Sinisa Karan. He also received the chairman of the National Assembly, Nenad Stevandic, and the chairman of the Union of Independent Social Democrats, Milorad Dodik.

"We will continue to develop our partnership in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields,— the Russian president said.

Finally, a meeting was held in the Kremlin with the Supreme Ruler of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, the President of Laos, Thonglong Sisulit, as well as the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Badra Gunba and Alan Gagloev.