A two-day summit in Switzerland aimed at finding a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine has wrapped up with significant powers declining to endorse a joint statement agreed upon by over 80 other nations and international bodies.
India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, all members of the BRICS economic group with substantial trade ties to Russia, attended the summit but opted not to sign the collective declaration.
The document reiterated the commitment of the signatories to refrain from using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, emphasizing the principles of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all nations, including Ukraine within their recognized borders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity for achieving lasting peace, during a news conference attended by leaders from the European Union, Ghana, Canada, Chile, and Switzerland.
The summit, held near Lucerne, gathered representatives from more than 100 countries and organizations to garner support for Zelensky's 10-point peace plan, which includes calls for a ceasefire, restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian soil, and reinstatement of Ukraine's pre-war borders with Russia.
Despite the absence of Russia and China at the summit, high-level dignitaries from various Western democracies, including the US, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK, were present. US Vice President Kamala Harris announced a $1.5 billion aid package to assist with humanitarian efforts and infrastructure reconstruction in Kyiv.
The summit's communique outlined agreements on various issues, such as allowing Ukraine to operate its nuclear power plants, including the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and urging the Kremlin to refrain from using nuclear weapons. The parties also emphasized the need to repatriate unlawfully displaced children and civilians to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his peace plan, which demands Ukrainian troop withdrawal from regions Moscow aims to annex and Kyiv's abandonment of NATO aspirations. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan criticized Putin's proposal, labeling it as morally unjust and unreasonable for peace negotiations.
