Yonhap News
A peace conference proposing to end a two-year-long war in Ukraine concluded with a joint statement agreement based on the preservation of Ukraine’s territory.
However, many delegates did not agree to sign, leaving doubts for future diplomatic resolutions.
On the 16th, CNN and AP reported that the two-day peace conference held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, ended with only 80 countries agreeing to a joint communiqué.
The joint communique calls for restraint from threats or use of force against any nation’s territorial integrity or political independence. It emphasizes the sovereignty and independence of all countries, including Ukraine, and the preservation of all territories.
It also demands Russia to allow Ukraine to use its nuclear power plants, including the Zaporizhia plant occupied by Russia, and restrain from threatening or using nuclear weapons. The return of displaced citizens was also urged.
CNN reported that Russia’s major trading partners, such as India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with BRICS members, did not sign the agreement.
The meeting was attended by leaders from Western countries, including the presidents and prime ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as well as U.S. Vice President Carmela Harris and representatives from the Holy See.
Countries including India, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia sent foreign ministers or lower-level envoys. They did not sign the joint statement addressing nuclear safety, food security, and prisoner exchange issues.
Russia was not invited to the conference, and China did not send a representative.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the Swiss summit as a first step towards peace in Ukraine and revealed that some countries have proposed hosting the next peace summit.
He did not mention the specific plan but noted that advisors from Western countries would meet shortly to develop a concrete plan.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, criticized Putin for not considering ending the war and said peace could not be achieved without negotiations. She pointed out that Putin’s request to hand over Ukrainian territory and disarm the military is highly unfair, and no country would accept such a demand.
Experts have expressed concerns that the conference would struggle to progress toward resolution as Russia was never invited.
China and Brazil have been exploring alternatives for peace.
The Qatari government revealed that they facilitated dialogue between Ukrainian and Russian representatives, returning 34 children to their families.
A day before the conference, Putin proposed a peace plan that required the Ukrainian military to withdraw and leave NATO, showing no intention of withdrawing Russian forces.
The BBC analyzed Russia’s significant influence as only 84 countries signed the communiqué, including abstentions from Saudi Arabia, India, and South Africa.
It is reported that Ukraine discreetly suggested that Saudi Arabia might host the next peace summit and wants Russia to participate.
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