Zelensky has called on global leaders and defence officials to attend the summit, stressing the importance of broad international support to pressure Russia into compliance.
Axios
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed that peace talks could commence if Russia withdraws its forces from Ukrainian territory. This announcement comes ahead of a major peace summit in Switzerland, scheduled for June 15-16, 2024. Zelensky emphasised that the withdrawal of Russian troops is a crucial precondition for any meaningful negotiations to end the conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The summit in Switzerland will see participation from over 80 countries, including key global players from both the West and other regions such as Brazil, India, and South Africa. The goal is to discuss and potentially agree on a framework for peace based on Zelensky's 10-point plan, which includes provisions for the withdrawal of Russian troops, justice for war crimes, and measures to prevent future escalations.
Zelensky has called on global leaders and defence officials to attend the summit, stressing the importance of broad international support to pressure Russia into compliance. However, there are concerns about the level of participation from some countries, notably China, which has been accused of attempting to disrupt the summit.
This summit says that international support [for Ukraine] is not weakening. Russia can start negotiations tomorrow if they pull out of our territories.
The Swiss-hosted talks aim to unify participating nations' approaches to the conflict, creating a pathway for future negotiations that could include Russia. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has acknowledged that while both Kyiv and Moscow are not currently ready for direct talks, significant diplomatic efforts are being made to bring Russia to the negotiating table.
The outcome of this summit will be critical in shaping the international community's strategy to achieve a sustainable and just peace in Ukraine.
