In Switzerland, the peace summit reaffirms the integrity of Ukraine and wants to involve Russia

The vast majority countries gathered at the first Ukraine peace summit reiterated their support à independence and sovereignty territory of Ukraine and underlinedé that Russia will have to be part of the discussions to arrive at "à a lasting and just peace.

But the summit had barely ended, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky estimated that Russia and its leaders – Vladimir Putin demanded a de facto capitulation from kyiv for any negotiations – “are not ready for peace just”.

Russia can negotiate peace “tomorrow, if it withdraws from our territory”, insisted Mr. Zelensky, during a press briefing in the outcome of this conference which brought together leaders from more than 90 countries in a luxury hotel complex in central Switzerland.

More than two years after the Russian invasion, the vast majority of participants managed to agree on a final communiqué outlining avenues to end the biggest European conflict since the Second World War.

But the question of “how and when to involve Russia” remains open, recognized the President of the Swiss Confederation and host of the summit, Viola Amherd.

“We will have to find a method allowing” Russia and China “to join these deliberations”, added Ghanaian President Nana Akufo- Addo.

According to an official count, around 80 countries support the final declaration. Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia in particular were not part of it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (c), Swiss President Viola Amherd (l) and Andriy Yermak (d), head of the Ukrainian presidential office, during a plenary session of the Ukraine Peace Summit on June 16, 2024 in Burgenstock , near Lucerne, Switzerland © POOL – ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE

The text reaffirms “the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine”. He denounces “the militarization of food security” and calls for the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia.

He also calls “to involve all parties” in the conflict to to stop hostilities, while Russia and its Chinese ally snubbed this first summit.

Beijing chose not to participate due to Moscow's absence . But Mr. Zelensky assured Sunday that his country was “not the enemy” of China, in response to a question about its relations with Beijing.

” Ukraine has only one enemy: Putin,” he insisted.

– Second summit –

“We know that peace in Ukraine will not be achieved in one fell swoop. It is a road ahead. This (summit) was not a peace negotiation. Because Putin is not serious about ending the war.” , underlined Sunday the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (r) and Swiss President Viola Amherd during the Ukraine Peace Summit on June 16, 2024 in Burgenstock, near Lucerne, Switzerland © POOL – URS FLUEELER

The Ukrainian president explained that the summit would be followed by meetings at technical and ministerial level, before a second peace summit “to end this war and have a just and lasting peace”. Its objective is to unite the international community around a peace proposal which could be presented to Moscow.

The meeting was held while Ukraine is in military difficulty, but Mr. Zelensky assured that “it is not because we let's become weaker than we start talking about peace.”

The call for surrender launched on Friday by President Vladimir Putin was also sharply rejected by a majority some participants.

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(l-r) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Swiss President Viola Amherd, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the closing press conference of the Summit on peace in Ukraine, June 16, 2024 in Burgenstock, Switzerland © POOL – MICHAEL BUHOLZER

But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said on Sunday that Ukraine should “think” about the Russian president's proposal, assuring that it was not an “ultimatum” but “an initiative of peace which takes into account the realities on the ground”.

The Ukrainian president described the summit as a “success”, a diplomatic success in addition to the unblocking of the American military aid, after months of procrastination and a loan of 50 billion dollars guaranteed by frozen Russian assets.

– Bringing the children home –

Sunday was dedicated to nuclear security and global food security, including ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a speech broadcast on screens at the Ukraine Peace Summit, June 15, 2024 in Burgenstock, near Lucerne, Switzerland © POOL – URS FLUEELER

The final communiqué demands the release “by complete exchange” of prisoners of war but also “of all deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children”.

“We saw approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children taken from their families, their communities and their country. It's terrifying to say that, and how can the world turn its back?” , Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris was indignant.

The text also demands that all illegally detained Ukrainian civilians be “returned to Ukraine”.< /p>

– Food and nuclear security –

Discussions on food security focused on the crisis in production and exports agricultural, which created a food and inflationary shock at the start of the war, Ukraine being one of the grain baskets of the world.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Council President Charles Michel during the Ukraine Peace Summit on June 16, 2024 in Burgenstock, near Lucerne, Switzerland © POOL – ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE

The final communiqué emphasizes that “food security must not be militarized in any way” and that freedom of navigation on the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov must be guaranteed.

Discussions included not only the destruction of fertile land, but also the risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance.

The final communiqué also demands that Ukraine regain “full sovereign control” over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe occupied by the Russians.

President Volodymyr Zelensky near an American flag during the Ukraine Peace Summit on June 15, 2024 in Burgenstock, near Lucerne, Switzerland © POOL – ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly warned of the risk of a major nuclear disaster at this facility.

“Ukrainian nuclear power plants and facilities, including the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, must operate safely under the full sovereign control of Ukraine,” says the communicated.

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