President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv is willing to hold peace talks with Russia tomorrow if Moscow withdraws from all Ukrainian territory.
However, at the close of a peace summit in Switzerland, he emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to end the war voluntarily and must be stopped “by any means necessary,” whether through military or diplomatic efforts.
Zelensky noted that while Western aid alone is insufficient to secure victory, the summit demonstrated that international support for Ukraine remains strong.
The meeting concluded with numerous countries affirming their commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity. A final document was adopted, attributing the widespread suffering and destruction of the war to Russia.
Nevertheless, some attending countries, including India, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia, did not sign the document.
The summit aimed to garner the widest possible support for a process that could help end the war in Ukraine, with over 90 countries and international organizations in attendance.
Russia was not invited, and its major ally, China, was also absent, leading to skepticism about the summit’s effectiveness.
Among the attendees were some nations not considered Ukraine’s staunchest supporters, including Saudi Arabia, whose foreign minister has indicated that Ukraine may need to make tough compromises, and Kenya, which has criticized recent sanctions on Russia.
The final document calls for the restoration of Ukrainian control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian occupation.
The document also describes Russia’s invasion as a “war,” a term Moscow has rejected. It calls for the exchange of all prisoners and the return of children abducted by Russia.
The most contentious issues, such as the status of land under Russian occupation, will be addressed later.
In his remarks to journalists following the summit, President Zelensky expressed gratitude to world leaders who attended, appreciating their independence in coming despite Russian pressure to stay away.
“This summit says that international support [for Ukraine] is not weakening,” he said, noting that states not previously involved in diplomatic efforts had joined the process.
And asked by the BBC if Ukraine’s weaker position on the battlefield had forced him to consider diplomatic moves, he replied that this was not the case and Ukraine had always talked about peace.
He said Moscow’s presence at negotiations would demonstrate its willingness for peace.
“Russia can start negotiations tomorrow if they pull out of our territories,” he said.
Mr Zelensky also said that China was not Ukraine’s enemy.
“We respect China and its territorial integrity, we want China to do the same for us,” he said, while calling on Beijing to seriously engage with developing peace proposals.
Earlier Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that attendees were united in their quest for peace in Ukraine.
“We all know we’re only at the beginning, the beginning of a path to peace,” he said.
“And despite some of us around this table having different opinions on how to exactly get to peace for Ukraine, let there be no mistake… we are totally united at a shared vision on principles, on values, on decency.
“You do not invade another country. You do not abduct children. You do not play politics with the world’s food supply. And you do not endanger nuclear safety.”
It was anticipated that all delegations would endorse a final statement condemning Russia’s invasion, but Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer informed journalists on Sunday that the declaration would not receive unanimous support.
President Zelensky stated on Saturday that the outcomes of the Swiss summit would be communicated to Moscow, with the hope of establishing a real end to the war at the second peace summit.
Russia dismissed the Swiss event as a waste of time, and on Friday, President Vladimir Putin said he would agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew troops from four regions that Russia partially occupies and claims to have annexed.
However, Western leaders at the summit strongly rejected Putin’s proposal. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called it “propaganda,” and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused Putin of “spinning a phony narrative about his willingness to negotiate.”
On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that while Putin did not rule out talks with Ukraine, guarantees would be needed to ensure their credibility, and Zelensky could not be a participant.