Ukraine's partners work to ensure Global South's participation in peace summit
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
In preparation for the Ukraine peace plan summit, diplomats have focused on a narrow set of goals to ensure the participation of China and other countries from the so-called Global South, according to Bloomberg.
Even in this case, there is no certainty that the efforts will be successful. Over 160 countries have been invited to discuss Ukraine's conditions for a settlement with Russia. However, the level of participation of Ukraine's Western allies in the conference is unclear.
According to people familiar with the discussions, to gain broader support, Germany and other allies of Ukraine are involving diplomats from Southern countries in drafting a possible text that would include key UN principles and other main issues, such as the return of deported children to Ukraine, prisoner exchanges, nuclear and food security.
However, these points do not align with Ukraine's peace plan, which demands adherence to the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, the withdrawal of Russian troops, and guarantees of its future security.
In particular, China's presence is considered crucial for the success of the meeting, given the influence Beijing has exerted on Moscow for over two years since the start of the war, according to diplomats.
Specifically, the G7 and EU countries are intensifying efforts to secure the participation of countries from Brazil to South Africa and Indonesia. Italy has been asked to persuade Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support the initiative, sources said, while Japan is negotiating with Brazil.
However, one of the key goals of the summit is to discuss how Russia can be involved in a genuine peace process, said one of the interlocutors.
Global peace summit
On June 15-16, 2024, the Global Peace Summit will be held in Switzerland. This event, initiated by Ukraine and Switzerland, aims to find ways to resolve international conflicts and establish sustainable peace on the planet.
Leaders from over 150 countries, as well as representatives of international organizations and civil society, are expected to participate in the summit.
Russia has not received an invitation to this summit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined the topics to be discussed at the summit. For more details, read the RBC-Ukraine's coverage.
