After Vladimir Putin’s rather underwhelming Victory Day parade over the weekend, the Russian President met with veterans of the Second World War – and told them that the war with Ukraine might be over soon. Putin was talking about a Russian victory and gave no hint of a compromise, but the comment could reflect the influence of some in his circle who are trying to nudge him towards an end to the conflict. The war is largely stalemated, though Russian forces are still grinding ever so slowly towards Ukraine’s fortress cities like Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the final portion of the...