The peace summit in Switzerland concluded with a communiqué emphasizing the necessity of dialogue among all conflict parties. The event, held in Bürgenstock near Lucerne, was attended by representatives from 100 of the over 160 invited countries and organizations. Notably, Russia was not invited, and China declined to participate despite Western efforts to secure its attendance.
Key Developments
Prior to the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin had stated his conditions for a ceasefire in Ukraine, which included the withdraw of Ukrainian troops from Donbas, and from the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. He also insisted that Ukraine renounce its plans to join NATO, and called for the lifting of Western sanctions against Russia.
Ukrainian authorities and Western countries rejected these demands as unacceptable.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia is not ready for a fair peace, as evidenced by their demands for Ukraine to retreat from its own territories. He expressed Ukraine’s willingness to engage in direct talks if Russia withdraws from Ukrainian territories.
Summit Outcomes
The final communiqué was signed by 80 out of 92 countries and four out of eight organizations present.
Out of the ten proposals put forward by Ukraine to achieve peace in the conflict with Russia, the communiqué only retains three: ensuring nuclear safety, addressing food security, and facilitating the exchange of prisoners along with the return of deported Ukrainian children, an issue that Zelensky highlighted, stating that nearly 20,000 children were taken from Ukraine by Russia.
The document stressed the importance of dialogue involving all parties and the continuation of cooperation at the advisor and minister levels. Preparations for the next summit are expected to be completed within months.
Zelensky announced that preparations for a next summit are expected to be completed within months, as participants agreed to continue their cooperation.
International Reactions
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister attended the summit but did not sign the communiqué.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Putin is not serious about ending the war, accusing him of demanding Ukraine’s surrender and disarmament.
Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesperson Elisa Raggi emphasized the need to eventually include Russia in the peace process.
Future Prospects
While no concrete solution to the conflict was achieved during that summit, it was not its primary objective: it rather aimed to create a foundation for future negotiations rather than serve as a negotiation forum.
Sources close to the negotiations suggested that Russia might revisit the Istanbul peace talks proposal from 2022, which involves seeking Ukraine’s agreement to conduct referendums in the occupied regions over the next 15 years. This proposal also includes maintaining Ukraine’s EU integration while excluding NATO membership.
However, Ukrainian sources expressed skepticism about the viability of this framework, citing the diminished credibility of Russia and the need for new negotiations with strong international mediation to ensure any agreement’s fairness and enforceability. They argue that accepting fixed-term referendums would likely result in the permanent loss of these territories to Russian control, making it an unacceptable solution for Ukraine.
