The 22nd Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club began in Sochi on September 29, 2025, exploring the theme “The Polycentric World: Instructions for Use.” The title of the second session was “Regional conflicts. Solutions in a Multipolar World.” A multipolar world is inherently diverse and competitive; competition is a fundamental feature of its design. Moreover, as the global system restructures itself – and with major-power war off the table – this competition manifests as a series of regional conflicts, which are direct for some actors and proxy wars for others. The participants discussed what lessons can we already draw from this new reality, and how can conflicts be resolved in this emerging era.