The Swiss-hosted summit aimed to take the first steps toward peace in Ukraine, despite the absence of Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the potential for historic developments at the conference, which saw the participation of numerous Western leaders, other government officials, and envoys, but was missing key players like Russia and China. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently outlined his conditions for ending the war, which failed to include any new demands. The summit focused on three main agenda items: nuclear safety, humanitarian assistance and a prisoner of war exchange, and global food security.
Zelenskyy led efforts to draw countries to the summit and push for a resolution to the conflict. With Russian troops controlling large portions of Ukrainian territory, the discussion included topics such as nuclear safety and food security, as well as Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace formula which calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territory. However, Putin has his own demands centered around Ukraine’s neutral status and limits on its armed forces. Despite Putin’s proposals, Ukraine’s push to join NATO and regain control of its territory remains a point of contention.
The absence of major players like Russia and China, who support Russia, raised questions about the potential effectiveness of the summit. While the Swiss summit provided an opportunity for Ukraine and its allies to highlight Russia’s aggression and violations of international law, it was seen as unlikely to deliver significant results. Concerns were raised about Ukraine’s negotiating position due to the changing dynamics on the battlefield and Russia’s military gains. As the focus of the world shifts to other conflicts and events, the summit aimed to bring attention back to Russia’s actions in Ukraine and the need for a restoration of its territory.
Critics of the summit viewed it as a futile exercise without the presence of Russia, as any peace deal would require the participation of all relevant parties. Despite efforts from Zelenskyy and other leaders to make progress towards peace, the absence of key players like Russia and China hindered the potential success of the summit. The differing demands and positions of Ukraine and Russia continue to complicate negotiations, with Putin’s recent proposals falling short of Kyiv’s expectations. As the diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict continue, the Swiss summit served as a platform to highlight Russia’s aggression and violations of international law in Ukraine.
