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”.