As a picturesque Swiss mountain range witnessed an extraordinary congregation of global leaders, the core of their deliberations revolved around a single theme — the pursuit of peace in war-stricken Ukraine. What grabbed headlines was a stark refusal from world leaders of a ceasefire deal proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was unequivocal in her criticism, labeling Putin's ceasefire proposal as mere 'propaganda' suggesting Ukraine's complete surrender. Meloni's sentiments were echoed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who dismissed the proposal as a 'dictatorial peace'. It is worth noting that Putin's ceasefire terms entail Ukraine withdrawing troops from four regions currently partially occupied and claimed by Russia.
The Ukrainian response was predictably strong. Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reiterated at the summit that Ukraine would not compromise on its independence, sovereignty, or territorial integrity. These terms were revealed by Putin just ahead of the two-day Summit on Peace in Ukraine, a bold move intended to pre-empt the significant gathering of international stakeholders.
The summit drew representatives from over 90 countries and global institutions, marking it as the most extensive diplomatic exercise for Ukraine since the conflict began. Notably, Russia was not invited, and China's absence further underscored the geopolitical complexities at play. The exclusion of these key players dampened expectations of groundbreaking progress at the summit.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added his voice, accusing Putin of spinning a 'phoney narrative' about willingness to negotiate. Sunak emphasized that countries supporting Russia with weapon supplies were 'on the wrong side of history'.
Speaking to the attendees, Zelensky underscored the importance of diplomacy, highlighting Ukraine's willingness to explore peaceful resolutions through 'joint efforts'. In a notable moment, he affirmed that any eventual peace plan could be presented to Russia during a subsequent summit at the leadership level.
Putin's demand for Ukraine to withdraw from the four disputed regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia — is a reassertion of territories Russia claimed to have annexed in 2022. Interestingly, the voting process for these annexations was widely decried by Ukraine and the West as illegitimate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rejected the notion of 'freezing the conflict' with foreign troops on Ukrainian soil, warning that it could set the stage for future wars of aggression.
A broader perspective reveals Putin's calculated timing of his ceasefire proposal right before the peace summit in Switzerland, a move seen as an attempt to undermine Ukraine's diplomatic efforts. His terms for peace, including Ukraine's total withdrawal from regions partially controlled by Russia and abandonment of NATO membership aspirations, reflect his most concrete territorial conditions thus far.
The chasm between Ukraine's and Russia's positions is substantial. Zelensky's administration remains steadfast that Russia must vacate all of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory, a position that underscores the immense challenges facing any negotiated settlement. Putin's conditions, deemed 'unacceptable' by Ukraine, also stipulate lifting Western sanctions against Russia, which remain a crucial pressure point.
Amidst these geopolitical maneuverings, the sentiments from Ukraine's foreign ministry encapsulate the frustration. The ministry accused Putin of trying to mislead the global community and disrupt diplomatic efforts for a just peace, deeming his negotiation stance as 'offensive to common sense'.
In a candid analysis, Nigel Gould-Davies, a former British ambassador and current senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, highlighted Putin's strategy of presenting himself as a peacemaker while positing terms that Ukraine and the West would inevitably reject. This stance could shift the political psychology, particularly among Western officials and their constituencies weary of a prolonged conflict.
The Summit on Peace in Ukraine, hosted amid the serene backdrop of the Swiss Alps, may not deliver immediate resolutions, but it marks a significant chapter in galvanizing international support for Ukraine. As Zelensky aptly put it, the goal is to 'give diplomacy a chance' and demonstrate that peaceful resolutions, though arduous, are achievable through collective global effort.
