Switzerland hosts first Ukraine Peace Summit: Kyiv's next steps

Contents:

• How did the summit go
• What can happen next
• Expectations from the second summit and participation of Russia

How did the summit go

The first peace summit took place at the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock. The main topics of discussion were nuclear security, food security, and the exchange of prisoners (which also included the return of children deported to Russia).

As a result of the event, a communiqué was adopted, outlining the three aforementioned issues. The final document was not supported by all; Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, India, South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil opposed it.

Thus, Ukraine held the first meeting on the peace formula at the leadership level, which had been in preparation for about a year. This meeting was preceded by meetings of the advisors to the heads of state.

What can happen next

After the first summit, according to Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Ukraine plans to hold meetings at the level of ministers and advisors on each item mentioned in the communiqué.

Several countries have already expressed their readiness to host them, including the United States, Germany, Britain, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands.

These three points will be the basis for the development of the meetings and their decisions.

Meetings at the ministerial and advisory levels will prepare for the second peace summit. According to Zhovkva, the foundations for a just and lasting peace can be laid there.

Expectations from the second summit and participation of Russia

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that in the interval between the first and second peace summit, an action plan to end the war is also expected to be developed.

For this purpose, Ukraine, together with other countries, will decide what a just peace means and how to achieve it based on the UN Charter.

According to the President, such a plan is to be presented to Russian representatives at the second summit. This is necessary "to fix the real end of the war" during this meeting.

In turn, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, noted that Russia's participation is possible, but the Ukrainian government will not make any compromises with the aggressor.

It is worth noting that the possible dates for the second peace summit are already known. According to Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, the meeting is likely to take place within the next five months, before the US elections in November.

For more details on the results of the first peace summit on Ukraine, please read the material by RBC-Ukraine.

Sources: statements by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, and a publication by the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine.