Peace Talks Could Start Tomorrow if Russia Exits Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv is ready to begin peace talks with Russia as soon as Moscow withdraws from all Ukrainian territories. Speaking at the conclusion of a peace summit in Switzerland, Zelensky expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the conflict, stressing the necessity of halting Putin “by any means necessary,” be it military or diplomatic.
Zelensky emphasized that while Western aid alone would not secure victory for Ukraine, the summit demonstrated robust international support. The event concluded with numerous countries reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity and adopting a final document that held Russia responsible for the war’s widespread devastation. However, nations like India, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia refrained from signing the document.
The summit, held in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, aimed to garner extensive backing for a peace process to end the war. Over 90 countries and international organizations participated, though notable absences included Russia and its key ally China, raising some doubts about the summit’s effectiveness.
Attendees included countries not typically seen as Ukraine’s closest allies, such as Saudi Arabia, whose foreign minister suggested Ukraine would need to make tough compromises, and Kenya, which criticized recent sanctions on Russia. The final document called for the restoration of Ukrainian control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian occupation, and referred to Russia’s actions as a “war,” a term Moscow rejects. It also urged the exchange of all prisoners and the return of children abducted by Russia, leaving more contentious issues, like the status of occupied lands, for future discussions.
After the summit, Zelensky thanked the world leaders for their participation, noting their independence despite Russian pressure to stay away. He asserted that international support for Ukraine remains strong and reiterated that Ukraine has always been open to peace talks. “Russia can start negotiations tomorrow if they pull out of our territories,” he said, adding that China is not seen as an enemy by Ukraine. “We respect China and its territorial integrity, and we want China to respect ours,” he said, urging Beijing to engage seriously in peace efforts.
Meanwhile, Putin outlined his terms for a ceasefire, demanding Ukraine withdraw troops from four partially occupied regions that Russia claims to have annexed. Western leaders at the summit dismissed Putin’s proposal, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni calling it “propaganda” and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accusing Putin of “spinning a phoney narrative about his willingness to negotiate.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later stated that Putin did not rule out talks with Ukraine but insisted on guarantees to ensure their credibility and excluded Zelensky from participating. Despite these challenges, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte emphasized the unity among summit attendees in their pursuit of peace for Ukraine, underscoring shared values and principles against invasion, child abduction, and threats to global food supply and nuclear safety.
Zelensky concluded by stating that the outcomes of the Swiss summit would be communicated to Moscow in anticipation of a second peace summit to secure a definitive end to the war.
