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As world leaders lined up to offer their support at summit for peace in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced hope of garnering international agreement around a proposal to end the war that he could present to Moscow.
More than two years after Russia invaded, leaders and senior officials from more than 90 states, including Ireland, gathered in a Swiss mountainside resort for a two-day summit dedicated to Ukraine’s plan to end the largest European conflict since World War II.
Most voiced strong support for Ukraine, demanding a “just peace”.
Others, however, criticised Russia’s exclusion and warned Ukraine it would need to compromise if it wanted to end the war.
In his opening remarks, Mr Zelensky told the assembly: “We must decide together what a just peace means for the world and how it can be achieved in a lasting way.
“Then it will be communicated to the representatives of Russia, so that at the second peace summit we can fix the real end of the war.”
Ukraine has previously said Russia would be invited to a second summit – a position many countries backed yesterday.
A draft of the final summit declaration seen by Reuters refers to Russia’s invasion as a “war” – a label Moscow rejects- and calls for Ukraine’s control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and its Azov Sea ports to be restored.
Russia casts what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine as part of a broader struggle with the West, which it says wants to bring Russia to its knees. Ukraine and the West say Russia is waging an illegal war of conquest.
Many Western leaders voiced forceful condemnation of the invasion, invoking the UN Charter in defence of Ukrainian territorial integrity, and rejecting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demands for parts of Ukraine as a condition for peace.
“One thing is clear in this conflict: there is an aggressor, which is Putin, and there is a victim, which is the Ukrainian people,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.
Some leaders are expected to depart early, and talks today will turn towards pursuing a joint position on the need for nuclear and food security, and the return of prisoners of war and children removed from Ukraine during the conflict.
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White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Qatar had helped to mediate the return from Russia of 30 or more Ukrainian children to their families.
“It’s going to take international pressure. It’s going to take a spotlight from the international community – and not just from the voices from the United States or Europe – but from unusual voices, as well, to say what Russia has done here is morally reprehensible and must be reversed,” he said.
Ukraine has said around 20,000 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians since the war began. Russia rejects this, saying it has protected vulnerable children from the war zone.
The draft communique, dated 13 June, calls for all illegally deported children to be returned.
Mr Zelensky hailed the participation of more than 90 countries at the Buergenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne as a show of international support for Ukraine, even as some European allies said a broader outreach was needed to build a lasting peace plan.
One central ambition of the Swiss and Ukrainian organisers is to announce the host country for a follow-up conference meant to build on the Swiss momentum.
Saudi Arabia is one of the favourites, and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the kingdom was ready to assist the peace process, but warned that a viable settlement would hinge on “difficult compromise.”
Striking a balance in the summit’s final declaration between forthright condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and wording that commands the broadest possible support has been part of the diplomatic tug-of-war at the event, sources say.
It remains to be seen how many countries will back a final joint declaration, and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer sought to temper hopes somewhat.
“Just to manage expectations, please: the crucial take-away is that we’ve all come here, that we’re talking, that many different nations and continents are talking to each other …This is the essence of this conference,” he said.
“Peace and peace processes take time, working millimetre by millimetre.”
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