The Limits of Mediation in bringing Russo-Ukraine war to an end

Abstract Peace between Russia and Ukraine is severely constrained, hindering any possibility of a peaceful resolution of the conflict as dictated by international law. The ongoing conflict has stagnated, creating a barrier to reconciliation between the involved parties, thus precluding peaceful coexistence. The purpose of this study was to scrutinize the limits of mediation in bringing Russo-Ukraine war to an end. Drawing on theoretical framework such as Contingency Model of Third-Party Intervention, this study adopted a qualitative approach and a case study design. Data analysis was conducted through thematic analysis.The findings uncovered that inconsistent international intervention, diplomatic bias, fragility of ceasefire, military superiority, and actors at play are the key factors that impede the effectiveness of mediation in bringing Russo-Ukraine war to an end. Despite these challenges, the study concludes that multilateral engagement remains crucial for fostering peaceful coexistence and addressing geopolitical challenges. The study recommends actors willingness and sincere commitment for durable peace by allowing mediation to take control as opposed to sabotage of peace tools by different stakeholders involved. Keywords: Limits of Mediation, Peacebuilding, International Law, Contingency Model of Third Party Intervention, Geopolitics, Russo-Ukraine war