Putin's recent statement that the conflict is "about to end" is a clear signal that the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine negotiations, which restarted under the Trump administration early last year, are entering their final stage. The key change is that Putin publicly confirmed for the first time that Zelensky is willing to meet, and attributed the information source to U.S. mediation and a message from Slovak Prime Minister Fico, marking that the U.S.-led peace process has gained the synchronized recognition of the key parties involved.

The most noteworthy detail is Putin's proactive proposal to appoint former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a mediator for Russia-Europe negotiations. This choice is highly symbolic: Schröder, due to his deep ties with Russia's energy industry, is controversial in the West. Putin's move is both testing the EU's negotiation flexibility and preemptively laying out an unofficial channel for possible post-war reconciliation.
This move outside the negotiation table hints that Russia's understanding of a "lasting peace agreement" has gone beyond the Ukrainian battlefield, directly pointing to the lifting of sanctions and energy cooperation as core interests.
On May 10, Russian President Putin stated that he believes the Russia-Ukraine conflict is "about to end," and said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told him that Ukrainian President Zelensky is ready for a meeting.
Putin also expressed gratitude to the U.S. for facilitating dialogue, but emphasized that the Russia-Ukraine issue "ultimately is a matter between Russia and Ukraine," and both sides could meet in a third country if a lasting peace agreement is reached.
Additionally, Putin said that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is a suitable choice to mediate negotiations between Russia and the EU, and expressed hope that the Iran conflict can end as soon as possible. $ETH
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