The much hyped Western-dominated event in Switzerland delivers little in substative outcomes
By News Desk
Less than 60 heads of state and a handful of lower-level envoys from other countries attended the “peace summit” hosted by Switzerland in Obbürgen. The absence of Russia at this summit made it a little more than a grievance conference, and the absence of China removed any veneer of legitimacy that the summit organizers may have hoped to secure from this PR stunt. With US President Joe Biden unable to make the summit after displaying worrying signs of acute absent mindedness at the G7 summit held on 15 June in Southern Italy, it was left to Vice President Kamala Harris to deliver a promise of a further $1.5 billion in infrastructure and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Harris left the conference before delegates sat down on Sunday to hammer out a declaration in support of Zelensky.
Switzerland said invitations were sent to more than 160 heads of state or government and 57 agreed to take part — including the leaders of Kenya, Ghana, Argentina and Colombia. Dozens of other nations including diplomatic heavyweights South Africa, Brazil and Indonesia opted to send diplomats instead of leaders, while India sent a junior minister.
A joint communique was signed by 78 countries attending the summit which called for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia’s two-year war.
In a speech on the eve of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that meaningful peace talks can begin once Ukraine withdraws its forces from the new Russian regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye and renounces its ambitions to join NATO. President Zelensky of Ukraine and some western leaders rejected the “ultimatum” issued by President Putin. Other world leaders acknowledged that the Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved without Moscow’s participation in talks.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said “it is essential to emphasize that any credible process will need Russia’s participation.” Faisal highlighted the importance of “peacefully resolving differences through dialogue,” expressing Saudi Arabia’s readiness to “mediate and bring the conflict closer to a solution.”