A number of countries at a two-day summit in Switzerland joined Ukraine on Sunday in calling for “dialogue between all parties” to end the war with Russia. But Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said he remained steadfast in his opposition to any negotiations that would require his country to cede territory.
The summit over the weekend drew officials from some 90 countries to the Swiss Alpine resort; Russia was not invited and, because of that, China and Brazil refused to participate.
At the end of the meeting, most of the delegates signed a statement on the same principles as promoting the exchange of prisoners and nuclear security.
He also said that “more involvement of representatives of all parties” should be done, a vague formulation that underscores the lack of common ground on the biggest question at the meeting: When, and how, should Ukraine and Russia seek peace negotiations. ?
With the two countries locked in a third year of all-out war and no clear path to military victory, some world leaders are calling for negotiations and compromises between the warring parties. India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and others repeated this message at the summit.
But Mr Zelensky has long argued that lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved with a total withdrawal from Russia. He told reporters on Sunday that the international community formulated a peace plan, drawing conclusions from the summit, “and then this approved plan will be forwarded to the representatives of the Russian Federation.”
“Then,” he added, “we will see if they are ready to end the war.”
Asked about the prospects for discussions, he said, “Russia can start negotiations with us tomorrow without waiting for anything if it leaves its legitimate territory.”
For Ukraine, which asked Switzerland to host the summit and worked to bring as many world leaders as possible to it, the event is important to build global momentum behind Mr. Zelensky’s vision to end the conflict, which also includes reparations and justice. for Russian war crimes.
“The ongoing war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine continues to cause massive human suffering and destruction and creates risks and crises with global consequences,” according to the conference’s joint statement, which Switzerland said was endorsed by more than 80 countries.
But India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates are among the few countries that have refused entry. Senior Indian diplomat Pavan Kapoor said his country did not endorse the statement because “only an option acceptable to both sides can lead to peace.”
South Africa criticized the summit for including Israel and called for a further push for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. (South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice, a move Israel called “despicable.”)
“Our actions should not foreclose the possibility of Russia and Ukraine finding their way to the negotiating table,” Sydney Mufamadi, national security adviser to the president of South Africa, said in a statement.
Ukraine’s Western allies have said little about possible peace talks with Russia. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union’s executive branch, said Russia could be “part of the effort to bring the road to peace to its destination” only if it committed to UN principles like territorial integrity.
“One of the main questions remains: How and when can Russia be included in the process?” Viola Amherd, president of Switzerland, said. “Discussions over the past two days have shown that there are different points of view.”
Swiss officials said the way forward could be to build engagement with Russia on specific priorities discussed at the summit, including ensuring safe shipping in the Black Sea and freeing prisoners of war.
Ukraine’s main ally, the United States, was represented at the summit by Vice President Kamala Harris, who left on Saturday evening after the first day. On Sunday, President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told delegates that the summit had set the stage for future negotiations, without elaborating on when and how that would happen.
The talks, he said, would be based on the agreement of the countries gathered on the “understanding of sovereignty and territorial integrity” outlined in the UN Charter.
“That has created a platform for Ukraine to stand up, move forward, to negotiate from a position of trust to secure sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mr. Sullivan said.
To end the war, diplomatic support could strengthen Ukraine’s hand in peace talks. But developments on the battlefield will certainly shape any settlement.
The Russian offensive that began in the winter has shown signs of petering out. It moved most of the front line about 15 miles, west of the town of Avdiivka, in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
On the Ukrainian side, American ammunition and weapons helped turn the tide in Kyiv. After months of delays by Congress in approving aid, it has finally arrived on the battlefield. Ukraine is expected to receive its first F-16 fighter jet this month or next, although it will improve its military prospects only gradually, as pilots gain combat skills in the aircraft.
Mr Zelensky said he would continue diplomatic efforts to prepare for a second summit where a peace plan could be presented to Russia. He said that Ukraine has been in talks with countries that have shown interest in holding the meeting.
But Russia has shown little willingness to engage with Mr. Zelensky’s diplomatic track. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov dismissed the summit in a televised interview broadcast on Sunday, saying that “he will not talk about peace.”
John Eligon contributed from Johannesburg; Mujib Mashal from New Delhi; and Natalia Novosolova from Kiev, Ukraine.
