Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin claims war ‘coming to an end’ as debate grows over Schröder as possible peace mediatornewsline24

Russia criticised Armenia after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made remarks in Yerevan suggesting Russia feared possible drone attacks over Moscow’s Red Square during the 9 May Victory Day parade.

The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, accused Armenia of giving Zelenskyy “a platform for anti-Russian remarks” and said Moscow expected an explanation from Yerevan.

Peskov stressed that Russia did not want Armenia to adopt an “anti-Russian stance”, AS growing tensions between the two longtime allies as Armenia moves closer to Western and European partners.

Latvian defence minister Andris Spruds resigned after two Ukrainian drones crossed into Latvia from Russia and struck oil storage tanks in the eastern city of Rezekne.

Latvian prime minister Evika Silina demanded his resignation, saying the country’s anti-drone systems were not activated quickly enough.

The incident prompted Latvia and neighbouring Lithuania to urge Nato to strengthen air defences in the Baltic region.

Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said the drones were Ukrainian but claimed they had been deliberately diverted off course by Russian electronic warfare while targeting sites inside Russia.

Ukraine also said it was considering sending experts to help improve Baltic air security after the incident.

Germany rejected Russian president Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could help mediate peace talks between Russia and the European Union over Ukraine.

Putin had named Schröder as his preferred intermediary after European Council president Antonio Costa said there was “potential” for talks with Moscow about Europe’s future security structure.

But German officials dismissed the idea as not credible, saying Russia had not changed any of its demands on Ukraine or shown serious interest in negotiations.

One official told Reuters the Kremlin was making bogus offers aimed at dividing Western allies and said a real test of Russia’s intentions would be whether it agreed to extend a temporary three-day ceasefire.

Schröder remains controversial in Germany because of his close ties to Putin and his work with Russian energy companies after leaving office. Berlin also stressed that any talks involving the EU must be closely coordinated with Ukraine and European member states.

Ukraine and Russia accused each other of repeatedly violating a US-backed temporary ceasefire almost immediately after it came into effect.

Kyiv reported continued drone strikes, battlefield clashes, and civilian deaths, while Moscow claimed Ukrainian drones and shelling targeted Russian territory and positions.

Despite the truce reducing some large-scale attacks, both sides said fighting never truly stopped.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said he believes the Ukraine war is “coming to an end,” remarks made shortly after Russia held a noticeably scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow.

Putin also hinted at possible future negotiations on European security and floated former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a potential intermediary, though many European leaders rejected the idea.