Stansstad, Switzerland, June 15, 2024. Urs Flueeler/Pool via REUTERS
World leaders convened at a Swiss Alpine resort on Saturday to seek broader consensus for Ukraine’s peace proposals at a summit notably absent of Chinese representation and dismissed by Russia as ineffectual, while Russia promoted its own ceasefire plans from afar.
Despite participation from over 90 countries, China’s absence diminished hopes of portraying Russia as globally isolated, especially as recent military setbacks have placed Kyiv in a challenging position. Additionally, the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has diverted global attention from Ukraine. The discussions primarily addressed broader issues arising from the war, such as food and nuclear security. However, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both potential hosts for a future event, emphasized that meaningful progress necessitates Russia’s involvement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the broad attendance as a success and anticipated “history being made.” “Today is the day when the world begins to bring a just peace closer,” he declared to leaders assembled around a large rectangular table. U.S. President Joe Biden delegated Vice President Kamala Harris to represent him, a decision that had caused discontent in Kyiv. Harris announced more than $1.5 billion in energy and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, where infrastructure has been significantly damaged by Russian air strikes since the 2022 full-scale invasion.
On the eve of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed ending the war if Kyiv abandoned its NATO ambitions and ceded four provinces claimed by Moscow. These conditions, reflecting Moscow’s increasing confidence in its military position, were promptly rejected by Ukraine and its allies. “He is calling for surrender,” Harris stated, adding, “Let nothing about the end of this war be decided without Ukraine.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this sentiment, asserting, “Freezing the conflict today, with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land, is not the answer. It is a recipe for future wars of aggression.”
China opted to boycott the event after Russia was excluded from the process, with the U.S. suggesting Beijing’s decision was influenced by Moscow. “Putin has no interest in a genuine peace,” remarked British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “He has launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against this summit, urging countries to stay away and promoting a false narrative about his willingness to negotiate.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz compared the summit to “a small plant that needs watering, nurturing, and delicate care” to yield results over time. Nonetheless, countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya identified Russia’s absence as a significant obstacle. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted, “I must also mention that this summit could have been more result-oriented if the other party to the conflict, Russia, was present in the room.” Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud indicated that credible talks would necessitate “difficult compromises.”
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer viewed the summit as an opportunity to begin building a broader global consensus to pressure Russia. “It’s like we’re in a Western echo chamber. That is: all Western European countries, the USA, we agree on what we want to happen with Ukraine,” Nehammer said. “But that alone is not enough.” Bob Deen, a senior research fellow at the Netherlands-based Clingendael Institute think-tank, suggested that calls for Russia’s inclusion in the discussions would intensify over time. “There is a risk that if Ukraine waits too long, it might end up with rival formats emerging. It may risk losing the initiative,” Deen told a forum on the summit’s sidelines.
Supporters of Ukraine marked the talks with a series of events in the nearby city of Lucerne to highlight the war’s humanitarian costs. Dozens of Ukrainian refugees from choirs across Switzerland gathered in a public square to sing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Earlier, approximately 250 people assembled in the city’s center, many draped in Ukrainian flags, wearing traditional attire, and holding pictures of missing relatives as they shared their stories. “I’m clinging to the idea that my husband is still alive,” said Svitlana Bilous, the wife of a soldier missing for more than 14 months. “That’s what keeps me going.”
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