The coup in Russia is over. For now.

In an unforeseen turn of events, the Wagner Group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has announced a retreat from the outskirts of Moscow, bringing an abrupt end to a tense standoff that gripped Russia.

The move came after intense negotiations between Prigozhin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, which culminated in an accord that guarantees security and immunity for the paramilitary organization.

Dubbed the "Midnight Accord," the agreement was reached as the specter of violent confrontation loomed. The Wagner Group had initially embarked on what they called the "March of Justice" on June 23, moving nearly 200km away from Moscow in just 24 hours. During this march, the group asserted that it refrained from any form of violence. However, Prigozhin issued a statement expressing his grave concerns regarding the possibility of bloodshed if they continued.

In an official statement that signals a watershed moment, Prigozhin elucidated, “They were going to dismantle PMC Wagner. We came out on June 23 to the March of Justice. In a day, we walked to nearly 200km away from Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. Now, the moment has come when blood may spill. That’s why, understanding the responsibility for spilling Russian blood on one of the sides, we are turning back our convoys and going back to field camps according to the plan."

Belarusian President Lukashenko has taken credit for brokering the peace agreement. In a marathon of discussions that reportedly lasted for hours, Prigozhin accepted the terms of Lukashenko’s agreement and agreed to halt the advance of his forces, subsequently returning to their bases.

In a move that raises eyebrows, Russian authorities have dropped all criminal cases against Prigozhin, who has been assured of full immunity for himself and his forces. Moreover, restrictions on the movement of vehicles, which were imposed in the Voronezh region due to clashes earlier during the coup, have been lifted.

Though this sudden de-escalation was unexpected, it has brought relief to many who feared a bloody confrontation. However, the Midnight Accord leaves several unanswered questions. How will Prigozhin and Russian President Vladimir Putin coexist following these events? What implications does this have for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine?