Zelenskyy outlines key goals for Global Peace Summit
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set forth significant objectives for Ukraine at the upcoming Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, targeting a comprehensive communiqué that leaders from participating countries will sign, reported Interfax-Ukraine on May 17.
"We want to get a communiqué as a result," Zelenskyy told journalists, highlighting the importance of energy security, including nuclear safety. "Because I believe that everyone is interested here, and this may give us the opportunity to predict [the course of] another winter."
One of the critical aspects Zelenskyy is pushing for is free navigation. "Any cargo through the Ukrainian sea without risk," he emphasized, pointing out the strategic economic and safety implications for regions like Odesa, particularly affected by port strikes.
The summit agenda also includes pressing humanitarian issues, notably the exchange of prisoners. "In the humanitarian aspect, the exchange of prisoners is a double issue, just like with energy," Zelenskyy explained.
Achieving a robust communiqué with broad international support would represent a diplomatic triumph for Kyiv. "After that, we can organize platforms in certain countries where each of these points will be technically processed," Zelenskyy added, suggesting further detailed discussions could follow the summit.
Finally, Zelenskyy mentioned that a successful summit could pave the way for future meetings, where broader and potentially more complex issues could be addressed. "And then this plan will be presented to the representatives of Russia," he noted, indicating that the outcomes of the summit might directly influence subsequent negotiations with Russia.
Global Peace Summit in Switzerland
The first Global Peace Summit will be held on June 15-16 in the Swiss resort town of Burgenstock near the city of Lucerne.
80 to 100 countries are expected to attend, according to Bloomberg.
The Swiss government said in a statement that the goal of the summit is to "create a common understanding" of how to achieve a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace" for Ukraine in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.
U.S. President Joe Biden might also attend the summit, according to media reports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on April 24 that Ukrainian intelligence had accurate information that Russia wanted to disrupt the peace summit.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on May 1 that Russia was not invited to the Global Peace Summit because it cannot be guaranteed that the aggressor state will act in good faith.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a ten-point peace formula at the G20 summit in November 2022. It included, among other things, the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those responsible for aggression, and security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as radiation, nuclear, energy security, countering ecocide, etc. Kyiv has invited foreign partners to take the lead in one of the plan's points.
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