On Sunday, a group of eighty nations demanded that any peace agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war must be based on Ukraine's "territorial integrity." However, some significant developing countries attending a summit in Switzerland chose not to support this position.
The joint statement concluded a two-day meeting at the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, which was notable for the absence of Russia—which many attendees had hoped could contribute to a peace roadmap—despite Russia's lack of invitation.
What Happened at the Summit
A hundred or more delegates, primarily from Western nations but also from several significant developing countries, attended the meeting; observers watched to see if and how they would support the conclusion agreement.
The final document focused on nuclear safety, food security, and prisoner exchange. "Respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty... can and will serve as a basis for achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine," the final document stated, citing the UN Charter.
The meeting also attempted to bring the war back into the public eye at a time when the Gaza conflict, national elections, and other issues have taken center stage. The final statement addressed three issues: prisoner swaps, food security, and nuclear safety.
India Opts Out of the Voting
The Swiss government said on Sunday that the following nations did not sign the final communiqué at the peace conference for Ukraine:
India, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Brazil, which attended the summit as an ‘observer’ nation, also did not sign the final declaration.
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What did the Leaders Say?
According to analysts, the two-day summit is unlikely to have a significant effect on ending the conflict because Russia, the nation spearheading and sustaining it, was not invited. Brazil, an observer at the conference, and China, its principal ally, who was unable to attend, have worked together to map out alternate paths toward peace.
Regarding how many more points of contention between Kyiv and Moscow will be more difficult to resolve, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that they amounted to “minimum conditions” for talks with Russia. The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, noted the day before how his wealthy Gulf nation had held discussions on the reunification of Ukrainian children with their families, which included both Russian and Ukrainian delegations. A total of 34 children have been rescued and reunited so far.
Speaking to reporters at the resort on Saturday, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan stated that it will "take work" and that other countries must step up to support efforts by countries like Qatar.
He went on to criticize Russia's actions, stating that it will require attention from the world community to declare that what Russia has done is abhorrent and needs to be undone, not just from voices in the US or Europe but also from voices outside of these two continents.
"As a father of three, I'm deeply concerned by thousands of Ukrainian kids forcibly transferred to Russia or Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine," Montenegro's prime minister, Milojko Spajic, stated during the summit on Sunday.
“We all at this table need to do more so that children of Ukraine are back in Ukraine,” he continued.
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