By: WAgdy Abdel AZiz
In a dramatic development reigniting tensions in Eastern Europe, the Kremlin announced today, Friday, September 12, 2025, a “temporary suspension” of communications between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in peace talks, amid mutual accusations of “lack of seriousness” from the Ukrainian side. At the same time, Russia’s Foreign Ministry revealed plans for the 13th edition of the “International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues” in Moscow on September 17, attended by more than 125 delegations from around 100 countries, in an effort to bolster Moscow’s influence as a global mediator amid the ongoing war since 2022. This announcement comes after weeks of military escalation, including Russian airstrikes on Poland, raising questions about whether the summit is a step toward peace or merely a diplomatic maneuver.
Talks Suspension: “Pause” Resets Eastern Front to Square One
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed in an official statement that “communications between the Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams are currently on hold,” attributing the reason to “external interferences” from European and American countries, according to reports from Kyiv and Moscow. Peskov added that Russia remains “open to diplomatic dialogue,” but warned that “patience is wearing thin” if Kyiv continues to reject Moscow’s conditions, such as Ukraine’s neutrality and non-membership in NATO.
From its side, the Ukrainian government in Kyiv denied any responsibility for the halt, describing the Russian announcement as “a pretext for military escalation.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on X: “Russia is manipulating peace for propaganda purposes while continuing to bombard our cities.” This suspension follows the failure of previous rounds in Istanbul and Turkey, where talks stalled in March 2022 over disputes regarding Russia’s withdrawal from Donbas.
Moscow Security Summit: 100 Countries Confront the “Unipolar Order”
In a move aimed at promoting Russia as a force for multipolarity, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues will bring together more than 125 delegations from approximately 100 countries, focusing on “rebuilding the global security architecture” away from “Western hegemony.” The annual event, held since 2014, will feature broad participation from African, Asian, and Latin American nations, including representatives from BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, per ministry statements.
The agenda is expected to emphasize issues such as “regional security in Europe” and “countering terrorism,” with indirect references to the Ukraine crisis. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the summit as “proof of the collapse of the Western order,” stressing that “Southern countries reject American blackmail.” However, NATO countries like Poland and France have declined participation, viewing the event as a “Kremlin propaganda platform.”
International Reactions: From Welcome to Warnings
Countries like China and India welcomed the summit as an opportunity for “multilateral dialogue,” while U.S. President Donald Trump warned that “our patience with Putin is running out quickly,” alluding to the need for “military pressure” on Moscow. In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed solidarity with Poland after a recent Russian raid, calling for a “decisive NATO response.”
On X, the posts sparked heated debate, with Ukrainian activists calling for an “immediate halt to the killing” and Russian accusations that “the West is obstructing peace.” Analysts see the suspension and summit as Russia’s attempt to regain the initiative ahead of winter, anticipating military escalation in Donbas.
As the summit approaches, eyes are on whether it will bridge the gap for resuming talks or serve as a show of strength.
