United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Thursday that he cannot foresee a near-term end to the war in Ukraine, even as multiple peace initiatives were outlined by African, Arab, and Latin American nations. He emphasized the need for continued and concrete actions to reduce the suffering caused by the conflict, acknowledging that the path to peace remains uncertain but stressing that practical steps must be taken now to lessen the war’s human and economic toll.
He cautioned that declaring immediate peace would be misleading, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the complexity of the challenges on the ground. Yet, he also insisted that the international community should keep pressing for dialogue, humanitarian access, and protection for civilians. The goal is to create enough space for negotiations and to create conditions where de-escalation and measured restraint can take hold, even if a swift resolution seems unlikely at the moment.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, addressed journalists in Brussels in June and offered a pragmatic assessment. He stated that there were no clear signs that a way out of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had emerged, noting that progress remains difficult and incremental at best. This stance reflects a broader frustration across European capitals that diplomacy has not yet yielded a durable solution, while simultaneously reaffirming the importance of continuing diplomatic engagement, sanctions, and support for Ukraine as part of a coordinated international response.
In the early stages of the conflict, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine took place on Belarusian soil, with specific meetings aimed at exploring possible resolutions. Those efforts, however, did not lead to lasting agreements, and since then the dialogue between the two sides has stalled. As the war persisted, both nations endured mounting casualties, displacement, and widespread destruction, complicating any future attempt at settlement. The absence of a sustained dialogue has kept the prospects for peace uncertain, leaving the international community to grapple with how best to encourage discussions, monitor ceasefires, and ensure accountability for violations while supporting the affected populations.