Eighty countries together called on Sunday for Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” to be the basis for a peace agreement to end Russia’s two-year war, although some major developing countries at the Swiss conference did not participate.
The joint communiqué closed a two-day conference in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock marked by the absence of Russia, which was not invited, but which many hoped would contribute to a road map for peace.
About 100 delegates, mostly from Western countries but also some important developing countries, are at the conference – and experts are watching to see how and if they can be behind the outcome document.
Participants India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates – represented by foreign ministers or lower-level envoys – are among those who did not sign the final document, which focuses on issues of nuclear security, food security and prisoner exchanges.
Brazil, an “observer” country, did not sign but Turkey – which has sought to mediate between Russia and Ukraine – did.
The final document states the UN Charter and “respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty … can and will be the basis for achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Viola Amherd, the president of Switzerland who hosted the event, told the final press conference that the fact that “a large majority” of participants agreed with the final document “shows what diplomacy can do.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the meeting as “the first step towards peace”, and said the joint communique remains “open for accession by all those who respect the UN Charter.”
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union’s Executive Commission, said the conference was “correctly” titled “Path to Peace” because peace will not be achieved in one step.
“This is not a peace negotiation because Putin is not serious about ending the war. He insists on capitulation. He insists on giving up Ukrainian territory – even the territory that he does not currently control,” he said. “They insist on disarming Ukraine, leaving it vulnerable to future aggression. No country will accept these outrageous terms.”
Analysts say that the two-day conference will have a concrete impact on ending the war because the country that leads and continues it, Russia, is not invited – for now. Russia’s main ally, China, which did not participate, and Brazil have jointly pursued an alternative path to peace.
The meeting also sought to keep the spotlight on the war at a time when the conflict in Gaza, national elections and other concerns have gained global attention.
The three themes of nuclear security, food security and prisoner exchange were featured in the final statement. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said there were “minimum conditions” for negotiations with Russia, suggesting many other areas of disagreement between Kyiv and Moscow would be more difficult to overcome.
The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, noted the day before how the wealthy Gulf state hosted discussions with Ukrainian and Russian delegations on the reunification of Ukrainian children with their families which has so far resulted in 34 children being reunited.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking to reporters at the resort on Saturday, said that “it will work” and developed countries to build on efforts by countries like Qatar.
“It will be in the spotlight of the international community, not only from voices from the United States or Europe, but also from unusual voices to say that what Russia is doing here is more than reprehensible and must be reversed,” he said.
The Ukrainian government believes that 19,546 children have been deported or forcibly relocated, and Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova previously confirmed that at least 2,000 were taken from Ukrainian orphanages.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic told the gathering on Sunday: “As a father of three, I am deeply concerned about the thousands of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia or Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine.”
“All of us at this table must do more to bring Ukrainian children back to Ukraine,” he said.