Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the Ukraine conflict could be ended with a deal if common sense prevailed and that there was light at the end of the tunnel, but cautioned that if not, then it would have to be resolved militarily.

He made the comments at a press conference following his visit to China for the Tianjin SCO Summit and the military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

The leader added that Russian forces were 'advancing on all fronts' on the battlefield in Ukraine, and that Ukraine was not capable of conducting a large-scale offensive.