Russia-Ukraine War
Putin peace terms slammed at Ukraine summit
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine wanted to "give diplomacy a chance"
Lucerne, Switzerland – The picturesque Bürgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne became the epicenter of global diplomacy this weekend as over 90 countries and international organizations gathered for a high-stakes peace summit aimed at charting a path toward resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, the absence of Russia and its key ally China cast a long shadow over the proceedings, leading many to question the potential for significant breakthroughs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who spearheaded the summit, expressed optimism, stating, "We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace. I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit." Despite this hopeful tone, the summit's effectiveness was immediately put to the test by the stark realities of the battlefield and the uncompromising stance of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On the eve of the summit, Putin laid out his conditions for a ceasefire, which included Ukraine withdrawing its troops from four regions that Russia partially occupies and claims to have annexed. These regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—are only partially under Russian control, and the annexation has been widely condemned as illegitimate by the international community. Putin also demanded that Ukraine abandon its ambitions to join NATO, a move that has long been a point of contention between Moscow and Kyiv.
The response from Western leaders was swift and unequivocal. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni dismissed Putin's proposal as "propaganda," stating that it effectively demanded Ukraine's withdrawal from its own territory. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed this sentiment, labeling it a "dictatorial peace." Both leaders emphasized that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
A draft declaration issued at the summit reaffirmed Ukraine's territorial integrity and unambiguously rejected any nuclear threats against the country. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen branded Putin's terms for a ceasefire as "offensive to common sense," underscoring the broad consensus among Western leaders that Russia's demands were unacceptable.
The summit's agenda focused on three key areas: nuclear safety, humanitarian assistance, and global food security. These topics were chosen for their potential to garner broad international support, even from countries less outspoken in their support for Ukraine. However, they fall short of addressing the more contentious issues that can only be resolved with Moscow's participation.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, standing in for President Joe Biden, pledged $1.5 billion in aid to bolster Ukraine's energy infrastructure and address humanitarian needs arising from the conflict. Harris emphasized that the war's outcome impacts the entire world and that Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be upheld.
Despite the absence of Russia and China, the summit was seen as a significant diplomatic effort to rally international support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated that he would present a proposal for ending the war to Moscow once it had been agreed upon by the international community. "We must decide together what a just peace means for the world and how it can be achieved in a lasting way," he said.
However, the prospects for a negotiated peace remain uncertain. Analysts point out that the situation on the battlefield has changed dramatically, with Russian forces making modest territorial gains in recent months. This shift has led some to question whether Zelenskyy's peace formula, which includes the withdrawal of Russian troops from all occupied Ukrainian territory and the restoration of Ukraine's pre-war borders, still has legs.
The summit also highlighted the geopolitical complexities of the conflict. While Western leaders lined up to pledge support for Ukraine, some countries from outside Ukraine's traditional circle of partners stressed the need to give Russia a voice. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud suggested that Kyiv would have to be prepared for a "difficult compromise" if it wanted to end the conflict.
In the meantime, Ukraine continues to call for more military support from its allies. The G7 leaders recently agreed to use the interest generated from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine defend itself, a move that underscores the ongoing financial and military support for Kyiv.
As the summit concluded, it was clear that while the gathering had succeeded in rallying international support for Ukraine, the path to a lasting peace remains fraught with challenges. The absence of Russia and the uncompromising stance of both sides suggest that the conflict is far from over, and the international community will need to continue its efforts to find a resolution that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.