The ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict has taken center stage at the peace summit in Switzerland, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky advocating for a just and lasting peace and pushing for global involvement in the peace talks. The summit has brought together over 90 nations to find common ground between Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan, which includes the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine’s borders, and UN resolutions on the war. However, Russia’s absence from the summit has diminished hopes for an immediate resolution despite Ukrainian efforts to end the war through a coalition of mediators rather than direct talks with Russia and Zelensky’s insistence on international validation of peace proposals before engaging with Moscow on Putin’s terms. The Kremlin’s demands, which include Ukraine withdrawing from four regions annexed by Moscow and abandoning its NATO membership aspirations, have been met with widespread rejection from Ukraine, the US, NATO, and global leaders. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have ridiculed Putin’s proposal, with Meloni asserting the defense of Ukraine signifies the unity of the international community’s efforts. The summit’s final communique reflects Ukraine’s principled positions, and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has hinted at the possibility of Russia’s involvement in future summits. Despite the challenges, there is a shared understanding of the importance of nuclear and food security, as well as the return of Ukrainian prisoners and children.
Key points
- Ukraine’s President Zelensky calls for global support for a just and lasting peace, opposing Russia’s demands for Ukraine’s surrender.
- Over 90 countries participated in the Switzerland peace summit, aiming to align Ukraine’s peace plan with UN resolutions on the war.
- Russia’s absence from the summit reduces expectations for an immediate breakthrough, with Ukraine seeking mediators instead of direct talks with Moscow.
- Global leaders, including Italy’s Prime Minister and Germany’s Chancellor, condemn Putin’s conditions as dictatorial and unrealistic.
- The summit’s final communique considers Ukraine’s positions, indicating a possibility for Russia’s involvement in future peace talks.
