Selenskyj and Amherd have different expectations ahead of the summit
Published: Saturday, Jun 15th 2024, 14:40
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President Viola Amherd and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed different expectations at the start of the high-level conference at Bürgenstock NW. While Amherd spoke of "modest goals", Selensky went much further.
"I am convinced that we are making history here at this summit," he told the media on Saturday before the official start of the conference on the first steps towards a peace process in the Ukraine war. The 101 participating states and organizations showed that the world is stronger than Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
"We want to give diplomacy a chance," said Selenskyj. He hoped that peace would soon be possible. The high-level meeting on the Bürgenstock demonstrates the great global will for peace. "Although other countries are not here, they also support the idea of peace."
First step on a long road
Amherd, the host of the Ukraine peace conference, was more reserved. She spoke audibly nervously of the "modest goals" of the meeting. However, the international community could prepare the ground for later direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, said the President of the Swiss Confederation.
The conference should bring concrete steps towards a later, just and lasting peace, said Amherd. Switzerland has an existential interest in an order based on the rules of international law. Russia had violated this with its attack on Ukraine.
Amherd went on to say that it was important that the conference was "so high-ranking". All states, governments and organizations present could contribute their ideas and perspectives with regard to the further peace process. It was important to take a first step together.
Ukraine open to Russia's participation
"We want to discuss how and under what circumstances Russia can also be included in the peace process," Amherd continued. Trust must be built up.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, expressed his openness in principle to having Russia present at the next peace conference. However, the principles and conditions for this would have to be discussed first.
"It must be recognized by all sides that we are victims of an aggressor," Jermak told media representatives on the Bürgenstock on Saturday afternoon. After that, an "open dialog" could also be entered into with Russia.
Conversations about the "human dimension"
Two years of war are enough, says Jermak. "We want to end the war and bring our children back." However, Ukraine is still prepared to win the war.
The conference on the Bürgenstock officially revolves around three topics in particular: nuclear safety, food security and the "human dimension", as Amherd explained. She mentioned, for example, the safe operation of all Ukrainian nuclear power plants, the unhindered export of food from Ukraine, the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilians and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.
Negotiations on a final declaration for the peace conference were not yet in the bag on Saturday. They are likely to continue "until the last minute" early on Sunday, several sources close to the talks told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
Open outcome of the conference
There are still several controversial points among the delegations from a total of one hundred states and organizations. In some cases, individual words were being disputed, it was said. Whether there will be a final declaration accepted by all states was initially unclear.
Several scenarios are possible, including a final declaration without consensus, in which each state has the opportunity to indicate whether it accepts it or not. If this scenario were to occur, it would be a disappointment for Switzerland as host.
The peace conference in Switzerland was organized at the request of Ukraine. Kiev is hoping to gain broad international support for its conditions for an end to the war against Russia. Moscow had announced in advance that it was not interested in participating and was therefore not invited.
©Keystone/SDA
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