On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, prompting immediate but fragmented diplomatic efforts. Initial negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials took place in Belarus and Istanbul, but Russia eventually withdrew from the talks. In July 2022, a breakthrough grain export deal was reached, allowing Ukraine to resume shipments through the Black Sea despite Russia’s blockade.
By June 2023, Western allies convened to discuss a peace plan — without Russia's participation. These talks continued until October 2023 but failed to produce tangible results. A year later, in June 2024, a summit in Switzerland focused on a Ukrainian-sponsored peace plan and postwar support, again excluding Russia.
A shift occurred in February 2025, when US President Donald Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a thaw in US-Russia relations. On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clashed with Trump at the White House, highlighting growing tensions between Ukraine and the US.
In March 2025, US and Ukrainian diplomats met in Saudi Arabia — this time without Russia — to propose a 30-day ceasefire, which Russia rejected in May. However, Russia did agree to direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, the first in nearly three years. These talks led to a prisoner exchange but no progress on a ceasefire.
(This video summary was created using AI. A journalist edited it before publication.)