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Peace Summit in Switzerland: Focus on Ending Russia-Ukraine War
Context:
The two-day summit on peace in Ukraine held at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland concluded hope for an end to the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
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- At the Path to Peace summit, 100 delegations from 80 countries and four organisations endorsed a final joint communiqué aimed at ending the war that has been going on since February 2022.
- India was among the leading countries that did not sign the document, while current G-20 chair Brazil remained only an observer.
Key Highlights
- Focus of the Declaration: The main outcome of the summit was the endorsement of Ukraine’s territorial integrity by the majority of participating countries.
- Emphasised nuclear safety, global food security, and humanitarian issues. Called for the release of all prisoners of war and the return of unlawfully displaced Ukrainian children and civilians.
- Notable Absences and Non-Signatories:
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- Russia was not invited to the summit.
- India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, and the UAE did not sign the final document.
- Brazil attended as an observer and did not sign.
- China did not attend the summit.
- The Ukrainian President praised the diplomatic success of the event and hinted at the possibility of a second peace summit to find a lasting solution to the war.
- Need for Russian Involvement: A significant point of contention was Russia’s exclusion from the summit. The Turkish Foreign Minister suggested the summit would be more effective with Russia’s participation in future peace talks.
- China’s Position: Concerns were raised about China’s possible alliance with Russia rather than using its influence to end the conflict and its absence at the Swiss summit.
- China’s strong position in Russia suggests that a simple phone call could resolve the war instantly.
- Humanitarian Efforts: Qatar hosted talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations, resulting in the reunification of 34 Ukrainian children with their families.
- Future Steps: Ukrainian national security advisers are scheduled to meet to draw up a comprehensive peace plan to ensure momentum in future peace initiatives and to engage all parties.