Ukraine Peace Summit: Building International Support for Zelenskiy's Proposals

Switzerland will host a summit on June 15-16 to garner international backing for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's peace proposals, excluding Russia from the talks despite Zelenskiy's efforts to secure China's participation. The summit aims to address food security, nuclear safety, and prisoner release.

Amidst the escalating conflict in Ukraine, Switzerland will host a summit on June 15-16 to bolster international support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's peace proposals. The summit, which excludes Russia, is intended to create a framework for lasting peace and a roadmap for Russia's eventual participation in the process.

Zelenskiy has actively lobbied China to attend the conference, but Beijing has declined, aligning itself more closely with Russia since the invasion. Notably, Russia was not invited to the summit, a decision reflecting Ukraine's mistrust due to the devastating impact of its invasion.

Zelenskiy's office has confirmed the attendance of 107 countries and international organizations, including Western allies, countries from South America, Africa, and the Middle East. The United States will participate, but President Joe Biden's attendance is uncertain.

Russia has denounced the summit as a waste of time, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating it would be futile without Russia's participation. Ukraine has indicated that Russia could be invited to future summits to discuss an end to the invasion, but only on Kyiv's terms.

The summit will focus on three key themes outlined in Zelenskiy's 10-point peace formula: food security, nuclear safety, and the release of prisoners and deportees. These issues have been identified as areas with potential to unite countries with differing perspectives.

Earlier negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Belarus and Istanbul in March 2022 proved unsuccessful. Subsequent peace initiatives proposed by China, the Vatican, and African countries also failed to make headway. In September 2022, Zelenskiy decreed a ban on talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine maintains that peace talks with Russia are only possible once Moscow withdraws its forces from occupied Ukrainian territory. Kyiv asserts that Russia has broken agreements reached during previous negotiations, hindering progress toward a peaceful resolution.

The summit provides a platform for the international community to demonstrate its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and its proposals for ending the conflict. It also offers an opportunity to address pressing humanitarian issues and pave the way for future negotiations.

The Ukraine Peace Summit is a crucial diplomatic initiative aimed at building international consensus on a path toward peace. While Russia's absence from the talks is a setback, the summit's agenda and the participation of a diverse range of countries offer hope for progress in resolving the ongoing conflict and restoring stability in Europe.