At a summit held at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, 80 countries came together to call for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the foundation of any peace agreement to end Russia’s war. Despite some key developing nations not joining in, the summit resulted in a joint communique emphasizing the importance of upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty. The absence of Russia at the conference was noted, as many attendees hoped for their involvement in a potential peace roadmap. While India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were among the participants that did not sign onto the final document, topics such as nuclear safety, food security, and prisoner exchanges were discussed in the context of achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Experts believe that the two-day conference may not have a significant concrete impact on ending the war, as Russia, the main aggressor, was not in attendance. However, other nations such as China and Brazil have shown interest in alternative paths to peace. By focusing on themes like nuclear safety, food security, and prisoner exchanges, the summit aimed to shift global attention back to the conflict in Ukraine amidst other pressing global issues. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted the minimum conditions needed for negotiations with Russia, suggesting that more challenging areas of disagreement would need to be addressed. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the importance of countries stepping up to condemn Russia’s actions and work together to reverse the damage done.
The Ukrainian government’s concern for the welfare of the children affected by the conflict was a prominent topic at the summit. Reports suggest that thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly displaced or transferred to Russia or Russian-occupied territories. Prime Minister Milojko Spajic of Montenegro expressed deep concern for these children, emphasizing the need for collective action to ensure their return to Ukraine. Discussions at the summit also touched on the reunification of Ukrainian children with their families, with Qatar hosting talks that resulted in 34 children being reunited with their families. The urgency of addressing the plight of these children and the broader humanitarian crisis in Ukraine was a key focus of the conference.
While the joint communique issued at the summit reiterated the importance of upholding Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the absence of Russia and key allies raised questions about the summit’s effectiveness in bringing about tangible change. The inclusion of topics like nuclear safety, food security, and prisoner exchanges in the final statement reflected a broader effort to address various aspects of the conflict in Ukraine. The summit served as a platform for countries to come together and voice their concerns about the ongoing war, highlighting the need for a collective response to the crisis. Moving forward, it remains to be seen how the outcomes of the summit will influence efforts towards peace in Ukraine and whether Russia and its allies will be willing to engage in diplomatic solutions to end the conflict.
