Vladimir Putin proposed a meeting with Zelensky as attacks between Kiev and Moscow continue.

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, stated this Saturday that he is willing to meet with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenski, although he conditioned any meeting on the prior establishment of a definitive agreement aimed at a ''long-term'' peace treaty. His statements came amid a new Russian military offensive against Ukraine and during the official celebrations of Victory Day in Moscow.

''It would be possible to meet in a third country, but only if a definitive agreement on a peace treaty is reached, which should be designed with a long-term perspective,'' Putin declared to reporters. The president also stated that the war ''is nearing its end,'' although he warned that the conflict continues to be ''a serious matter''.

In his statements, Putin again blamed Western countries for the continuation of the war, accusing them of intensifying the confrontation with Russia through the political, financial, and military support provided to Kiev since the beginning of the invasion. ''They started to intensify the confrontation with Russia, which continues to this day,'' he noted.

The dialogue proposal came on a day marked by new Russian bombings across various Ukrainian regions. According to Kiev authorities, Russia launched an Iskander ballistic missile and 43 attack drones during the early morning, despite the three-day truce previously announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The attacks particularly affected the regions of Sumy, Odesa, and Chernihiv. At least three people died, including a father and his son, while several others were injured. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that numerous private homes were destroyed or set on fire as a result of the bombings.

In the Chernihiv region, the fire affected a farm and resulted in the deaths of two civilians, in addition to leaving one injured. Emergency teams worked for hours to control the fires and assist those affected, although rescue operations had to be temporarily suspended due to the risk of new attacks.

Images released by Ukrainian authorities showed streets covered in debris, partially destroyed houses, and burned vehicles following the impact of Russian drones and projectiles. The Ukrainian Air Force claimed that it managed to shoot down 34 of the 43 drones launched by Moscow, although nine projectiles hit at least six different points in the country.

The offensive coincided with the Victory Day celebrations in Russia, one of the most important dates on the Kremlin's political and military calendar. This year, the official events in Moscow were held under heavy security measures, with restrictions on communications and without some of the usual massive military displays.

During the parade in Red Square, Putin focused much of his speech on the war in Ukraine and assured that Russian troops continue to advance despite the international support received by Kiev. ''Even though they are fighting against an aggressive force supported by the entire NATO bloc, our heroes continue to advance,'' the president stated in reference to NATO.

The Russian president also highlighted the ''unity'' and ''moral strength'' of Russian society as fundamental elements to sustain the war effort. ''I am firmly convinced that our cause is just. We are together, victory was and will always be ours,'' he declared before thousands of attendees at the military parade.

The Response from Ukraine

Kiev quickly responded to the possibility of a bilateral meeting proposed by Putin. Ukrainian presidential advisor Serguí Leshchenko stated that Zelenski is willing to meet with the Russian president anywhere except Moscow, considering the Russian capital as the seat of the ''aggressor state''.

Meanwhile, European diplomatic contacts related to the conflict continued. The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, reported having spoken with Putin about his recent meeting with Zelenski in Armenia, although he clarified that he did not convey direct messages between the two leaders.

Fico also reiterated his support for Ukraine's accession to the European Union and emphasized the importance of resuming the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.

For his part, the President of the European Council, António Costa, stated that Europe will eventually have to dialogue with Russia about regional security once peace is achieved.

In the context of Europe Day, Zelenski asserted that Ukraine is already an ''inseparable'' part of the European community and thanked for the support received since the beginning of the war. ''We are defending Ukraine and we are also defending Europe,'' the Ukrainian president stated, while the conflict continues without clear signs of an immediate resolution.