President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Vice President Kamala Harris opened a peace conference in Switzerland aimed at garnering support for Ukraine’s negotiating positions. The two-day conference excluded Russia and focused on endorsing Ukraine’s proposal for a lasting peace. Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan involves Russian withdrawal from Ukrainian territory, reparations, and facing justice over any war crimes. On the other hand, President Vladimir Putin of Russia offered a cease-fire plan, which Ukraine denounced as intended to undermine the conference.
As the conference unfolded, it became evident that China and Brazil were not fully supportive of Ukraine’s approach. China and Brazil believed that direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were necessary to end the conflict. Zelensky, however, aimed to negotiate collectively with Russia after building consensus among allies and neutral nations. The conference, attended by delegations from 100 countries and organizations, focused on nuclear safety, food security, and humanitarian issues like prisoner exchanges.
While President Biden did not attend the summit, Vice President Harris and National Security Adviser Sullivan represented the United States. Harris announced new funding for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and provided support for refugees and displaced people in the country. With Russia excluded from the summit, the success was measured by the show of international support for Ukraine and a rebuke to Russia. The focus was on practical solutions to support nuclear, energy, and food security for Ukraine.
Despite efforts to gain support for Ukraine’s peace plan, nations like China and Brazil felt that peace talks excluding Russia would be futile. China and Brazil backed a separate negotiating proposal and remained skeptical of the Swiss conference. Turkey, another mediator between Russia and Ukraine, emphasized the importance of a peace conference involving Russia for greater success. Some Ukrainian analysts expressed concerns that Ukraine’s strategy at the summit might be a diplomatic misstep.
Overall, the diplomacy around the gathering was seen to be valuable for Ukraine beyond the formal effort to endorse its peace plan. Ukraine aimed to promote its vision of a postwar order in Eastern Europe to prevent future Russian expansionism. The country sought to rally support for talks on its terms and not based on proposals from other nations like China or Russia. The conference, while facing skepticism from some countries, was seen as an important step in Ukraine’s efforts to secure peace and stability in the region.
