At a conference held in Switzerland, eighty countries emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s territorial integrity as a crucial factor in reaching a peace agreement to put an end to Russia’s two-year-long war. However, some significant developing nations did not join in on this statement, making it unclear how diplomacy will move forward.
After a two-day conference at the Bรผrgenstock resort in Switzerland, the joint communique was released. Russia was notably absent from the conference as they were not invited. Despite this, several attendees expressed optimism that Russia could potentially join in on a peace roadmap in the future.
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Since President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, an all-out war has caused the death or injury of hundreds of thousands of people. This conflict has also disrupted markets for essential goods such as grain and fertilizer and forced millions to flee their homes. Furthermore, it has created a divide between the West, who have imposed sanctions on Moscow over the war, and countries like Russia and China who support the invasion.
Around 100 delegations, predominantly from Western countries, along with important developing nations, gathered for the conference. The event was promoted as a crucial initial move towards achieving peace, despite the fact that the involved countries appear to be at odds with each other as much as ever.
In attendance at the event were notable leaders such as presidents and prime ministers from France, Germany, Britain, Japan, Poland, Argentina, Ecuador, Kenya, and Somalia. The Holy See was also represented, and the United States was spoken for by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Several countries, including India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, were not among the signatories of the final document. Foreign ministers or lower-level envoys represented these countries in the conference, which primarily discussed matters related to nuclear safety, food security, and prisoner exchange. While Brazil participated as an “observer” and did not sign the document, Turkey was among the signatories.
In the ultimate report, it was stated that a comprehensive, just, and enduring peace in Ukraine can be achieved by adhering to the U.N. Charter and respecting territorial integrity and sovereignty. However, Putin has not been receptive to this approach. He seeks Ukraine to relinquish even more territory and abandon its longstanding aspirations of joining the NATO military alliance.
During the final news conference, Viola Amherd, the Swiss president who hosted the event, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the “great majority” of participants agreed to the final document. She emphasized that this achievement demonstrates what diplomacy can accomplish. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis announced Switzerland’s intention to communicate with Russian authorities, though he refrained from disclosing the specific message that would be conveyed.
During the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for the initial efforts towards achieving peace. He also emphasized that the joint communique is accessible to anyone who upholds the principles of the U.N. Charter.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is currently engaged in discussions with certain countries, which he chose not to disclose, that have expressed interest in holding a “second peace summit.” However, no specific timeline has been established for this summit. Recently, Zelenskyy accused China, with the support of Russia, of attempting to sabotage the Swiss conference, an allegation that Beijing has denied.
Maintaining the momentum towards peace is now a daunting task for the Swiss and Ukraine allies. The fear of bombs and the rapid developments on the battlefield, including the Russian territorial gains in the north and east, may soon overshadow the peace talks.
According to Zelenskyy, there will be a forthcoming meeting between national security advisers where they will discuss and devise a specific plan.
In recent months, only about half of the member countries of the United Nations participated in the proceedings, which is indicative of war fatigue and other pressing concerns. This is in stark contrast to March 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine resulted in the passage of a non-binding resolution at the U.N. General Assembly, with 141 countries demanding that Russian troops withdraw from Ukraine.
The reason why certain developing nations did not support the conclusive statement remains unclear. However, it is possible that they are avoiding displeasing Russia or have established a neutral position between Moscow, its partner China, and Western nations who are supporting Kyiv.
During the Swiss event, the goal was to take a firm stance on Russia while also creating an opportunity for them to participate in a peace initiative.
According to Zelenskyy, a lot of nations expressed their interest in having representatives from the Russian Federation involved. However, he also mentioned that most countries are not willing to engage with Russian leaders. Due to this, there are contrasting viewpoints worldwide.
“The conference has been aptly named ‘Path to Peace’, as peace cannot be attained in a single stride,” remarked Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Union’s Executive Commission.
According to her, Putin’s proposal cannot be considered a peace negotiation as he does not seem determined to put an end to the war. Instead, he is pushing for complete surrender and even demands the relinquishing of Ukrainian land, which is currently not under his control. Furthermore, he wants Ukraine to be disarmed, leaving it open to future attacks. Such unreasonable terms are unacceptable for any country.
Experts speculated that the recent two-day conference would not have any substantial effect on ending the ongoing war due to the absence of Russia, a key player in the conflict. While China and Brazil did not participate, they have been collaborating to devise alternative strategies for achieving peace.
According to Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, his affluent Gulf nation recently held discussions with representatives from both Ukraine and Russia regarding the reuniting of Ukrainian children with their families. These talks have already resulted in 34 children being reunited, and efforts are ongoing to bring even more families back together.
According to the Ukrainian government, a staggering number of 19,546 children have been either deported or forcefully displaced. Meanwhile, Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova has confirmed that a minimum of 2,000 children were taken from Ukrainian orphanages.
During the gathering on Sunday, Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic expressed his deep concern for the thousands of Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred to Russia or Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine, stating that as a father of three, this issue hits close to home.
“He added that we all need to do more to ensure the children of Ukraine can return home,” expressed the speaker at the table.
Numerous nations regarded the discussions as a question of principle, partly to support global regulations.
In strong condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kenyan President William Ruto described it as a “horrifying spectacle of carnage and devastation.” He emphasized that his government has been unwavering in its stance against the aggressive actions of Russia.
The Swiss gathering received a subdued response at a regular demonstration in Kyiv by relatives of soldiers captured by Russia.
Yana Shyrokyh, a 56-year-old mother of an army serviceman who has been held captive since 2022, expressed her hopes that the conference would make a difference. However, she remains skeptical due to the absence of some crucial countries in the communique. She said, “I truly wish that these countries could find effective ways to exert pressure on Russia.”
