The Kremlin announced on Friday that preparations are underway for a third round of talks aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine , confirming that the meeting will take place soon. These developments come amid intensive diplomatic efforts led by international and regional powers to try to defuse the protracted crisis.
The United States is actively seeking to end the nearly four-year-long war, having played a mediating role in January through two rounds of direct negotiations between the warring parties, hosted by the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, reflecting the growing role of regional diplomacy in resolving major international conflicts.
Results of the second round and prisoner exchange
The second round of negotiations, held on Wednesday and Thursday, concluded without any significant breakthrough on contentious issues, most notably the disputed territories and future security arrangements. Despite the lack of major political progress, the same day saw a positive development: the two sides successfully exchanged dozens of captured soldiers, indicating that communication channels remain open despite the intensity of the fighting.
Commenting on the progress of the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “Over the past two days, there has been very constructive and difficult work.” When asked about a specific date for the resumption of talks, Peskov told the official Russian news agency RIA Novosti that “there is no specific date yet, but it will be soon,” leaving the door open to speculation about the timing and location of the next round.
Background of the conflict and its global impact
At the end of this month, four years will have passed since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an event that reshaped the geopolitical map of the world. The war, which began with a large-scale Russian offensive in February 2022, has become the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, leaving widespread destruction of infrastructure and unprecedented waves of displacement and refugees.
The repercussions of this war are not limited to the Russian and Ukrainian sides; they have extended to the global economy, causing crises in supply chains, rising energy and food prices, and heightened security tensions that have left the world constantly on edge, fearing nuclear escalation. These negotiations offer a glimmer of hope for ending a conflict that has drained the resources of both sides and negatively impacted international stability, amid hopes that current diplomatic pressure will lead to a compromise that will halt the bloodshed.
