Military operations in the Russia–Ukraine war continue to intensify. The exchange of attacks between the two sides, Russia’s missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, and Kyiv’s operations against military targets inside Russian territory indicate that the conflict has entered a new phase. The recent escalation around Belarus has also increased concerns that the geographical scope of the war could expand.
Speaking to ARB24 Television, political analyst Ahmad Shahidov said that tensions on the Belarus front are rising rapidly and that the possibility of a Belarus–Ukraine confrontation has become one of the key issues on the international agenda. According to Shahidov, Ukraine is no longer acting solely as a country defending itself but has also become a force capable of targeting Russia’s military infrastructure and seizing the initiative. In his view, these developments increase the risk of the conflict spreading into new areas.
Ahmad Shahidov also noted that the mediation efforts led by the United States have so far failed to produce tangible results. He argued that the prospects for dialogue between Ukraine and Russia remain extremely limited and that a lasting solution can only be achieved through direct political dialogue and face-to-face negotiations between the parties, rather than through intermediaries alone. Shahidov added that, for Washington, the Russia–Ukraine war is no longer the top foreign policy priority it once was, as the United States has shifted greater attention to other global challenges, making progress toward peace even more difficult.
