Ukraine: Kyiv is prepared to hold peace talks with Russia tomorrow if Moscow withdraws from all Ukrainian territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced. Speaking at the conclusion of a peace summit in Switzerland, Zelensky emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not end the war and must be stopped “by any means necessary,” whether military or diplomatic.
Zelensky noted that while Western aid alone is insufficient to win the war, the summit demonstrated that international support for Ukraine remains strong. The meeting concluded with numerous countries reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity. A final document adopted at the summit attributed the widespread suffering and destruction of the war squarely to Russia. However, several countries, including India, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia, did not sign the document.
The summit aimed to garner the broadest possible backing for a peace process to end the war in Ukraine. Over 90 countries and international organizations attended, though Russia was not invited, and its major ally, China, was absent, leading some to question the summit’s effectiveness. Among the attendees were countries not considered Ukraine’s closest supporters, such as Saudi Arabia, whose foreign minister warned that Ukraine might have to make difficult compromises, and Kenya, which opposed recent sanctions on Russia.
The final document called for the restoration of Ukrainian control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently occupied by Russia. It also referred to Russia’s invasion as a “war,” a term Moscow rejects. The document called for the exchange of all prisoners and the return of children abducted by Russia. Contentious topics, such as the status of land under Russian occupation, were left for future discussions.
After the summit, Zelensky thanked world leaders for their attendance, noting their independence in coming despite pressure from Russia to stay away. He emphasized that international support for Ukraine is not weakening and highlighted the participation of states previously uninvolved in diplomatic efforts.
When asked if Ukraine’s weaker position on the battlefield forced him to consider diplomatic moves, Zelensky insisted this was not the case, asserting that Ukraine has always sought peace. He stated that Russia’s participation in negotiations would indicate its willingness for peace. “Russia can start negotiations tomorrow if they pull out of our territories,” he said.
Zelensky also clarified that China is not considered an enemy by Ukraine. “We respect China and its territorial integrity, and we want China to do the same for us,” he said, urging Beijing to engage seriously with developing peace proposals.
Earlier, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated that attendees were united in their pursuit of peace in Ukraine. “We all know we’re only at the beginning of a path to peace,” he said. “Despite our different opinions on how to achieve peace for Ukraine, we are united in our shared vision on principles, values, and decency. You do not invade another country, abduct children, play politics with the world’s food supply, or endanger nuclear safety.”
It was anticipated that all delegations would endorse a final statement condemning Russia’s invasion, but Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer indicated that the declaration would not receive unanimous support. Zelensky mentioned that the Swiss summit’s results would be communicated to Moscow to pave the way for a second peace summit aimed at formally ending the war.
Russia dismissed the Swiss event as a waste of time, and on Friday, President Vladimir Putin said he would agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew troops from four regions Russia partially occupies and claims to have annexed. However, Western leaders at the summit strongly rejected 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.”
On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin did not rule out talks with Ukraine but added that guarantees would be needed for their credibility, and Zelensky could not participate.
