Worrying results after two-day Ukraine peace summit ends

The Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland concluded with mixed results, as only 80 of the 93 participating states approved the final declaration at the close of the two-day event on Sunday.

Six countries from the G20 group of the world’s most important economic powers – Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, India and Indonesia – did not support the statement, according to a list published by the Swiss hosts.

The statement, which runs for just over two pages, condemns the threat of nuclear weapons, calls for the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children and demands unhindered exports of grain from Ukraine.

The final declaration does not specify plans for a follow-up conference, but highlights the need for dialogue with Russia to create peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken of a second summit within months, with several countries expressing interest in hosting it. Saudi Arabia is considered one of the main candidates.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed that Russia’s participation would require its commitment to the United Nations Charter.

Armenia, Bahrain, Thailand, Libya, the United Arab Emirates, Colombia and the Vatican also did not support the document released at the Bürgenstock mountain resort hotel, near Lucerne.

Brazil, India, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates are united with Russia in the so-called BRICS group and maintain a friendly relationship with Russia, despite the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The draft final declaration took this into account and did not explicitly condemn Moscow for its actions or call for its withdrawal from Ukraine.

Instead, it recalls the United Nations Charter: “In particular, we reaffirm our commitment to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State”, says the text.

The principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine, must be respected, he said.

The signatories are also in favor of protecting the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya, which is occupied by Russia, and agree that any threat to use nuclear weapons must be condemned.

They also call for free exports of cereals from Ukraine, which are particularly important for impoverished countries.

The statement also advocates the exchange of prisoners of war and the return to Russia of children and other civilians abducted from Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer anticipated incomplete support for the document, while at the same time minimizing the importance of this fact.

This was simply due to its exact wording, according to Nehammer, rather than reflecting a lack of support for efforts to broker peace in Ukraine.

The basic common position would not be affected, he said: “That’s why I’m not so worried if not everyone signs now.”

According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the conference as such brought significant progress.

Kuleba said all countries that were not present were also aware of the impetus given by the meeting. Overall, the process that has been initiated is very welcome, he said: “We are on the right track.”

Swiss President Viola Amherd acknowledged the diverse perspectives present at the conference, but emphasized that it marked the first high-level discussion of a peace process. Some substantive prerequisites for a path to ending the war in Ukraine have been created, she said.

The event aimed to start a peace process in which Russia would also be involved in the long term. Moscow officials were not invited on this occasion and did not express a desire to attend.

The summit was also an attempt by the West to involve other countries in South America, Asia and Africa in peace efforts based on international law. Ukraine calls for a “just and lasting” peace.