In the end, the end was a watered-down declaration that some did not sign. After two much-heralded days in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, it was not what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would have hoped for.
Instead, he would have wanted the 92-nation conference to help Kyiv improve its prospects of resolving the war with Russia.
While the final declaration did commit to supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity as the foundation of any peace agreement (which will provide a significant boost to Zelensky’s war effort), it did not set out the necessary steps for ending the war.
Moreover, only 80 delegates signed the final declaration. Several, including Saudi Arabia, withheld their signature for fear that it might appear to blame Russia for provoking the conflict.
Mincing one’s words
Russia was not invited to the summit, dismissing it as a “road to nowhere”, while China, a key ally of Moscow, opted not to attend.
Russia has lobbied hard during the past two years, especially in Asia and Africa, to build support for countering the Western narrative that Russia provoked the conflict by launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The final statement declared its support for the UN Charter, adding that “respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty...can and will serve as a basis for achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”.
The signatories further said that they “believe that reaching peace requires the involvement of and dialogue between all parties”.
The wording was something of a compromise. While it mentioned the “ongoing war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine”, it also focused on other issues, such as protecting civilians and securing grain corridors. No next steps for peace were laid.
Zelensky nevertheless declared the summit to be a success, declaring that “a united world is a world of peace, a world that knows how to do right”. He added that he would hold peace talks “tomorrow” if Russia pulled its troops out of his country.
Insisting on capitulation
That prospect seems unlikely. On the eve of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his own terms for a ceasefire, demanding that Ukraine hand over four regions, including areas that are still under Ukrainian control.
It was immediately rejected by Kyiv and its Western backers. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, saying it demonstrated that Putin was not serious about peace.
“He is insisting on capitulation, on ceding Ukrainian territory—even territory not occupied by him,” she said. “Insisting on disarming Ukraine, leaving it vulnerable to future aggression. No country would ever accept these outrageous terms.”
Her comments were echoed by US Vice President Kamala Harris, representing the US while President Joe Biden attended an election fundraiser in California. She said Putin’s proposal was not a call for negotiations but a call for “surrender”.
Support to continue
Harris reiterated America’s full backing for Ukraine and announced $1.5bn in new US assistance, including energy infrastructure and civilian security.
Prior to the summit, leaders from the Group of 7 (G7) major industrial nations announced a $50bn loan package for Kyiv that will leverage interest and income from the more than $260bn in frozen Russian assets.
In addition, Biden and Zelensky signed a security agreement that commits the US to train Ukraine’s armed forces for ten years. The US is also sending Kyiv a second Patriot missile system and imposing another round of financial sanctions on Russia.
While the Swiss summit for Kyiv was a demonstration of support, and may well help Ukraine avoid defeat to Russia, it also means that the Ukrainians’ chances of actually winning the war by pushing the Russians out remains slim.
