Putin says he will only meet Zelensky once lasting peace deal is agreed

Vladimir Putin has said he will only meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky once a lasting peace deal is agreed as he claimed the conflict is “coming to an end”. Speaking after the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War, on Saturday (9 May), Putin was asked if Slovak prime minister Robert Fico had brought him a message from Zelensky. The Russian leader responded: “Mr Fico told me about his meeting [with Zelensky] but there was no particular message. I simply heard once again that the Ukrainian side, Mr Zelensky, is ready to hold a personal meeting. Yes, I heard that. But this is not the first time we have heard such statements.” Later, speaking of the war he began over four years ago, Putin said how he thinks the “matter is coming to an end”. Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent Find us on social: TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@independent Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/the.independent/ X (Twitter) / https://twitter.com/Independent Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/TheIndependentOnline Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations