Ukrainian Foreign Minister discusses potential invitation of Russia to second Peace Summit
Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (Getty Images)
Representatives of Russia should attend the second Peace Summit. They should be invited to develop principles for lasting peace in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Andrii Sybiha stated that while they support inviting representatives of Russia to the second Peace Summit, they will never endorse peace initiatives developed without Ukraine's involvement and behind its back. He emphasized that they would not support peace agreements made at Ukraine's expense and would never agree to a peace deal that does not hold violators accountable.
Speaking at the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of the Peace Formula in Montreal, Sybiha added that "unpunished evil returns stronger." Ukrainians understand this better than anyone else. In this regard, he urged conference participants to stop this evil jointly once and for all.
The head of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stated that it is hard to find a nation in the world that seeks peace more strongly than Ukrainians. However, peace at any cost is not peace; rather, it represents capitulation, occupation, deportations, and torture. Therefore, Ukraine will never agree to that.
He also commented on the conference in which he was directly participating. According to him, it should produce concrete steps regarding the return of captives and deported persons to Ukraine.
Andrii Sybiha expressed hope that the conference would lead to developing specific solutions and identifying parties capable of systematically and effectively working to bring their children home.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also noted that the current international system has demonstrated its inability to achieve this. Therefore, "We have to fix it."
Yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to participate in the Peace Summit because he does not know what to do after the war is over.
At the same time, Zelenskyy emphasized that Kyiv is ready for Russia to participate in the second Peace Summit, but a peace plan must be in place. Furthermore, a plan for engaging Global South countries is necessary.
Zelenskyy also added that Kyiv is willing to supplement its plan with points proposed by China, Brazil, and other nations, provided that their proposals are based on the UN Charter and help stop hostilities.
