Putin Says Ukraine War Near End as Zelenskyy Disputes
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- Putin said the war in Ukraine is "coming to an end" on May 9, 2026.
- Peskov reported that trilateral work between Russia, Ukraine and the United States has laid groundwork for a peace deal, but gave no specific details.
- Zelenskyy asserted that Russia has no intention of ending the war and warned Ukraine is preparing for new attacks.
- Trump convened multiple US‑mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine but no peace agreement has emerged.
- Russia currently occupies roughly one‑fifth of Ukrainian territory and seeks additional concessions, while Kyiv demands Russian troop withdrawal.
Why it matters: Ukraine's civilians remain at risk as the war, now in its fifth year, drags on; the US's diplomatic capital is spent on futile talks, while continued fighting fuels regional instability.
