Vladimir Putin suggested that the war in Ukraine may be “coming to an end” on Saturday – comments that raise the question of why the Russian president might want a possible end to the war now, given how the fighting is evolving.

The ⁠European ⁠Union has ⁠imposed sanctions on 16 individuals and ​seven entities in Russia for systematic ‌unlawful deportation of Ukrainian ‌children, the EU Council ⁠said ⁠in a statement on Monday.