Key statements of summit in Switzerland - Peace in Ukraine and messages for Russia

Content

• What the communiqué says
• Final statements by the leaders
• What did Zelenskyy talk about at the press conference
• Statements by Ukraine's key partners

What the communiqué says

The final document was supported by 80 countries participating in the summit and four international organizations. Among those who did not join were Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Mexico, the UAE, and South Africa. Armenia and representatives of Brazil and the Vatican also abstained.

The text refers to a constructive exchange of different views on achieving the foundations of a just peace. It emphasizes the commitment to the UN Charter, as well as the need to refrain from the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, including Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders.

A common vision was agreed on three important aspects:

• Any use of nuclear energy and nuclear facilities must be safe. Ukrainian nuclear power plants, including the Zaporizhzhia NPP, should operate under full Ukrainian control and under the supervision of the IAEA. Threats and use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine are unacceptable
• Safe commercial shipping, as well as access to seaports on the Black and Azov Seas, is extremely important. Attacks on merchant ships and civilian ports are unacceptable. Ukrainian agricultural products should be freely supplied to third countries
• All prisoners of war must be released in full exchange. All deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children and other illegally detained civilians must be returned to Ukraine

"We believe that reaching peace requires the involvement of and dialogue between all parties. We, therefore, decided to undertake concrete steps in the future in the above-mentioned areas with further engagement of the representatives of all parties," the communiqué reads.

The summit participants also agreed that the UN Charter, with its principles of respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, will be the basis for achieving peace in Ukraine.

Final statements by the leaders

At the final briefing, Swiss President Viola Amherd said that the summit was the first time peace had been discussed at such a high level. According to her, a common position has been agreed upon, which will be the starting point for a joint move forward.

"Now this starting point must be utilized. A just and sustainable peace in Ukraine is of fundamental importance," she added.

According to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the summit participants "took the first steps towards peace" together. The communiqué fully reflects expectations and intentions, and remains open for signature by countries that respect the UN Charter.

Technical work will now continue at the level of advisors and ministers in the format of special meetings on specific ideas and proposals. Preliminary agreements have been reached with France, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and a number of other countries. These countries will host and lead the technical groups.

He also said when the second peace summit would take place.

"Preparations will take months, not years. When the action plans for peace are ready and when every step is worked out, the path will be opened for the second peace summit, and thus for ending this war," Zelenskyy said, adding that there are already countries interested in holding the summit.

Chilean President Gabriel Borich expressed hope that "very soon" Moscow and Kyiv would begin a peaceful dialogue, but on the condition that Ukraine's territorial integrity is preserved. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that peace will not be achieved in one step.

She also noted that Putin is not willing to end the war, insisting on the surrender of territories and disarmament of Ukraine. The European Union, for its part, is providing billions of euros in aid and has recently agreed to transfer the proceeds of frozen Russian assets, and European countries will not leave Ukraine face-to-face with the aggressor.

"Ultimately it will be for Ukraine to determine the conditions of a just peace... I call on Russia to hear the message of the International Community, respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, put an end to imperialist violence, and bring back the children. When Russia says it is ready for peace based on the UN Charter then the time will come for Russia to be part of our efforts to bring the path to peace to its destination. And I hope and I work for this day to come soon," von der Leyen added.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that, according to preliminary estimates, 20,000 Ukrainian children had been deported to Russia, which is depriving them of their language, culture, and identity. He also announced that Canada would host a humanitarian team in the coming months. He also called for redoubled efforts to ensure Ukraine's security.

"Ukraine is one of the front lines of the battle around the world right now, and we all need to stand together," Trudeau emphasized.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo called Africa an "accidental victim" of the Russian-Ukrainian war. He also noted that in order to resolve the conflict, it is necessary to find ways for Russia and China to join the peace process.

What did Zelenskyy talk about at the press conference

About Brazil and China

When asked what it would take to get Brazil and China to join the peace process, Zelenskyy said that all the summit participants emphasized their commitment to Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity. And this gives it strong support.

"As soon as Brazil and China join the principles that united us, we will be happy to hear their opinions. Sometimes even if they do not coincide with the majority," he said.

As for China, it has a great political and economic influence on Russia. China could help Ukraine, but Chinese proposals cannot be perceived through the media. At the same time, Ukraine does not consider China an enemy, it wants it to become a friend, and friends help.

"When I said that China is a tool, I meant that Putin did everything he could to get Chinese representatives to work with other countries to cancel their presence at the summit and join the Sino-Brazilian proposals. I think it's wrong. Every leader can have his or her own position without breaking the other. All I want is for us to respect each other," Zelenskyy said.

On the terms of negotiations with Russia

Russia is not currently ready for a just peace. Zelenskyy commented on Putin's extreme ultimatums and called them another historical mistake.

"It is a very serious mistake for a person who suggests that Ukraine withdraw from some more of our territories. A person can say anything, even about a frozen conflict, but here he provoked the whole world and, frankly, frightened it. This is a big mistake that is useful for us. Behind the scenes (of the summit - ed.), almost everyone said that with this message Putin conveyed to the whole world that everything he had said before about the desire to really end the war was multiplied by zero," the president said.

That is why there will be further meetings of technical groups to detail the peace plan. The meetings are to be held on different continents. According to him, the whole world has not yet understood the problem of Russia because the war is going on in Ukraine. However, Europe has already realized that "the day after tomorrow, comrade Putin" will come to them.

He recalled that even before the full-scale invasion, Moscow had been blocking peace initiatives at the Minsk talks.

"Why? It was not profitable to end the war. The proof of this is the full-scale invasion... That is why the process of a peace summit and the development of a detailed plan was chosen... And when a concrete plan appears, it will be handed over to representatives of the Russian Federation. And we will see if they are ready to end the war. These are the conditions for dialogue with the occupiers," Zelenskyy emphasized.

On international assistance and support

Countries support Ukraine not only with military packages but also in humanitarian and political aspects. For Ukraine, the word of the majority in the world is important to put pressure on Russia to end the war. The first way is diplomatic, the second is a strong army and defense.

In this context, the President pointed to the package voted in the United States, announcements from the UK, Northern Europe, etc.

"The only question is the timing. It is not because we are weakening that we are talking about peace. We have always talked about peace," he said, adding that the Ukrainian "peace formula" is almost two years old.

Asked how he deals with his partners' fatigue from the war, Zelenskyy said that the main issue for Ukraine is survival.

"The Nazi Putin came to destroy us, he has this idée fixe... We are very grateful for the help, but I don't think you can get tired of help. Because this is not the price for the war. I mean, Putin will not leave Ukraine. It will be like it was before World War II. And then no one in Europe will think about fatigue. Everyone will think about survival," he added.

On the tasks at the front and the "Istanbul agreements"

Zelenskyy did not disclose his plans at the front, but noted that the main task is to prevent Russia from making progress in the Kharkiv region.

"I think the situation has stabilized now. And I believe that in the near future, thanks to our partners, we will be able to strengthen our soldiers and respond to the invaders with a more powerful response... As for the war, I would not think what will happen in 2025 and so on. It all depends on the strength on the battlefield, as well as on diplomatic work," he emphasized.

On the "diplomatic front," if everything goes as planned, Ukraine will be approaching the second peace summit. And if Russia decides to attend it, whether voluntarily or forced by the world, it will show that Moscow wants peace.

"Russia can start negotiations tomorrow without waiting for anything. If they leave our legal territories. This is just respect for the UN Charter," the President emphasized.

Commenting on the failure of the "Istanbul Agreements" in the spring of 2022, to which Putin constantly refers, he said that ultimatums are not negotiations.

"With these ultimatums, Putin came in a tank, surrounded our capital, and occupied many regions of our country. Then there were many more of these ultimatums. By the way, they are no different from Putin's latest "proposals". Ultimatums allow us to pause. The Minsk agreements were an ultimatum, and he needed this pause to prepare for a full-scale invasion. Therefore, any ultimatums for Putin are a need for a pause. To train his military, because he has already lost his trained army," Zelenskyy added.

Statements by Ukraine's key partners

Other interesting statements were made during the two-day summit in Switzerland. RBC-Ukraine has collected the messages of key partners.

Rishi Sunak, British Prime Minister

Russia tried to prevent the summit from taking place because it wanted Ukraine to surrender. Recently, the Russian representative to the UN said that the only topic of international meetings on Ukraine should be "unconditional surrender of the Kyiv regime."

"Well, this will never happen. Because aggression cannot and should not prevail," Sunak emphasized.

Emmanuel Macron, President of France

In his opinion, capitulation cannot be the path to peace in Ukraine.

"All of us are committed to building a sustainable peace. But, as I have already said, such peace cannot be a Ukrainian capitulation. That is why the prerequisite is to help Ukraine in resisting this aggression," Macron said.

Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor

Russia can end the war at any time, but it refuses to do so. At the same time, it is impossible to negotiate peace without its participation.

"It is true that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved without involving Russia. But let's not forget that as we speak, Russia continues to wage its war. We all know that Russia can end the war now or at any other time if it stops its offensive and withdraws its forces from Ukraine," Scholz said.

Georgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister

The defense of Ukraine means combining all peaceful efforts. And peace in Ukraine does not mean that it has to surrender, as Putin believes.

"If Russia does not agree to the terms, we will force them to surrender," Meloni added.

Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor to the President of the United States

Putin's ultimatums on surrendering the territories of four regions, demilitarization, refusal to join NATO, and so on, reject morality and common sense.

"What this Summit has done is define the core foundation of what a just peace looks like, and that is the principles of the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law, the notion of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the basic proposition that no nation should be allowed to conquer another nation by force," Sullivan said.