Dozens of countries meeting at a peace summit in Switzerland reiterated their support for the independence and territorial sovereignty of Ukrainewhile pointing out that kyiv must talk with Moscow to end the war. The majority of the more than 90 countries represented at the Burgenstock summit – including Argentina – gave their support to the final declaration, which called for the return of the thousands of Ukrainian children deported to Russia, as well as a full exchange of prisoners of war. However Neither Russia nor China were represented at the meeting and The statement did not receive the endorsement of countries such as Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Call for “dialogue between all parties”
More than two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leaders and senior officials from more than 90 countries met at a luxurious hotel complex in the Swiss city of Burgenstock to try to end the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. The document reaffirmed “the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all States, including Ukraine”.
The text also demanded “involvement and dialogue between all parties” to the conflict to end hostilities. The question of “how and when Russia can be included” in the peace process remains open, acknowledged Viola Amherd, Swiss president and host of the summit. China decided not to participate in the summit in the absence of Russia. However, Zelensky affirmed that Ukraine was not an “enemy” of Chinaresponding to a question about his relations with Beijing.
Ursula von der Leyenpresident of the European Commission, stressed this Sunday that “peace in Ukraine will not be achieved at the stroke of a pen. This summit was not a peace negotiation, because Putin is not serious about ending the warZelensky, who indicated that there would be a second peace summit, wants to unite the international community around a peace proposal that could be presented to Moscow.
Present at the final appearance before hundreds of journalists, the Chilean president Gabriel Boric highlighted: “The peace summit marks the beginning of a significant process. For the first time numerous global leaders from all continents and different political ideas have come together to discuss peace instead of war, This summit represents a beacon of hope and will serve to fuel lasting peace dialogues“.
The meeting took place at a delicate time for Ukraine on the battlefield, where Russian forces are larger and better equipped. However, “it is not because we are weakening that we start talking about peace,” said the Ukrainian president. On Friday, Putin proposed conditions that kyiv considers unacceptable to start negotiations, which would amount to an already surrender abandon territories recognized as part of Ukraine by the international community.
Children, food and nuclear safety
Summit participants were divided into three working groups on Sunday: nuclear security, humanitarian affairs, food security and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. The final declaration demanded the release “by full exchange” of war prisoners and also of “all Ukrainian children illegally deported and displaced” by Russia. The text also calls for all illegally detained Ukrainian civilians to be “resent to Ukraine.”
The food security talks examined the decline in agricultural production and exports, which had a ripple effect around the world, as Ukraine was one of the breadbaskets of the world before the war. The statement stressed that “Food safety should not be instrumentalized in any case” and that freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov must be guaranteed.
Discussions addressed the destruction of fertile land during war and the ongoing risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance. The document also calls for Ukraine to regain “full and sovereign” control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned on several occasions of the risk of a nuclear catastrophe at this facility controlled by Russian forces.
