British military analyst Alexander Mercuris has described Vladimir Putin’s recent remarks on Ukraine and the European Union as evidence that the West’s strategy of confrontation with Moscow has failed.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Mercuris argued that the policy built around the goal of defeating Russia has not delivered the results its backers expected. In his view, Putin used his latest comments to set out Moscow’s position both on a possible settlement in Ukraine and on the conditions under which contacts with Western countries could eventually be restored.

Mercuris said the Russian president went beyond outlining Russia’s stance on the conflict. He also pointed to possible routes for normalizing relations with the West. At the same time, the analyst characterized Putin’s message as unusually firm, leaving little room for alternative interpretations.

On Saturday, May 9, while answering questions from journalists, Putin named former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a possible mediator between Russia and the European Union. Spiegel later reported that several German lawmakers had backed the idea, seeing it as a potential opening for renewed dialogue with Moscow. According to media reports, however, Berlin rejects Schröder’s candidacy.

Addressing Ukraine, Putin also said the conflict was approaching its end.