The leaders of Italy and Germany have firmly rejected Vladimir Putin’s proposed ceasefire terms to halt the war in Ukraine. This response came as numerous countries convened at a summit in Switzerland to discuss resolving the conflict.
Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, criticized Putin’s plan as “propaganda,” stating it essentially required Ukraine to “withdraw from Ukraine.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the proposal as a “dictatorial peace.”
On Friday, Putin asserted that he would agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew its troops from four regions that Russia partially occupies and claims to have annexed.
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, told the BBC at the Swiss summit that there would be “no compromise on independence, sovereignty or territorial integrity”.
Putin revealed his terms ahead of the two-day Summit on Peace in Ukraine, which aims to discuss the fundamental principles for ending the war.
Over 90 countries and global institutions are attending the event, marking the largest gathering for Ukraine since the full-scale invasion. However, Russia was not invited, and China—a key ally of Russia—is not attending, leading to low expectations for significant progress at this stage.
Commenting on Putin’s proposal, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, “It doesn’t seem particularly effective to me as a negotiation proposal to tell Ukraine that it must withdraw from Ukraine.”
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused Putin of “spinning a phoney narrative about his willingness to negotiate,” and added that countries supplying weapons to Russia “are on the wrong side of history.”
Ukraine views the gathering at the secluded spot in Bürgenstock as a success, citing its global reach and the number of countries represented. President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine wants to “give diplomacy a chance” and demonstrate that “joint efforts” can stop wars.
“I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit. May a just peace be established as soon as possible,” he said.
His aide Mr Yermak – an influential figure in Ukrainian politics – brushed aside the absence of China, and suggested that when a joint plan for peace talks is ready it could be be presented to Russia.
“We think that can happen at the second summit at the level of leaders,” he said.
Mr Putin has already ruled out any kind of peace process on Ukraine’s terms. The four Ukrainian regions he wants Ukraine to withdraw from are only partially occupied by Russia, which claims to have annexed them in 2022. The voting process held then was denounced in Ukraine and the West as a sham.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that “freezing the conflict today with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land is not an answer”.
“In fact, it is a recipe for future wars of aggression,” she said.
Mr Putin’s terms for a ceasefire were branded “offensive to common sense” by Ukraine.