When will the Russia-Ukraine war end?

RUSSIA’S invasion of Ukraine has caused outrage across the world.

Despite ongoing peace talks an end to the conflict is not yet in sight.

When will the Russia-Ukraine war end?

Over three million Ukrainians have fled the country since the Russian invasion of Ukraine early on Thursday, February 24, 2022, creating Europe’s largest refugee crisis since the Second World War.

The world was united in shock when Russia invaded Ukraine, with prominent members of the international community calling for an end to the conflict.

American President Joe Biden branded the Russian leader a “war criminal” for the attacks on Ukraine.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told defence ministers: “President Putin must stop this war immediately [and] engage in diplomacy in good faith.”

Although it is not known when the conflict will end, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich, said the end would depend on Kremlin resources.

He said: “I think that no later than in May, early May, we should have a peace agreement, maybe much earlier, we will see, I am talking about the latest possible dates.”

Has there been peace talks between Russia and Ukraine?

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia began on Monday, February 28, 2022 just four days after the invasion.

One factor hindering negotiations could be Ukraine’s desire for close ties with, and possible membership of Nato, something Russia see as totally unacceptable.

The negotiations, facilitated by the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, saw Ukraine request an immediate ceasefire and the removal of all Russian forces from the country, the talks ended without resolution.

Negotiations continued on March 3, 2022, with both Moscow and Kyiv agreeing to establish humanitarian corridors in order to evacuate citizens. 

In these talks Russia demanded that Ukraine recognise Russia-occupied Crimea and grant independence to Luhansk and Donetsk.

After further talks on March 7, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s adviser Mykhailo Podolyakthat there were “small positive” shifts in “improving the logistics of humanitarian corridors”.

At peace talks in Turkey on March 10, 2022, Ukraine asked for a 24-hour ceasefire to evacuate civilians, particularly in the port city of Mariupol, but Russia did not agree and the bombardment continued.

A fourth round of peace talks began on March 14, 2022, with Zelensky claiming they were starting to “sound more realistic” but that “time is still needed”.

On March 16, 2022, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that “neutral status is now being seriously discussed” and that “the sides are close to agreeing” on the specific terms of the agreement.

How long has Russia been at war with Ukraine?

Russia invaded Ukraine early on February 24, 2022, with Putin describing the invasion as a “special military operation”.

But this isn’t the first time Russia has launched a military attack in this region.

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and supported Crimean separatists after protests in Ukraine ousted their pro-Russia leader.

And although a ceasefire was agreed in 2015, it was never implemented

Ukraine gained independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and has since become friendly towards Nato and the West.