As leaders from over 90 countries gathered in Switzerland for a high-stakes summit on ending the war in Ukraine, the heads of Italy and Germany have firmly rebuffed the ceasefire conditions outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni dismissed Putin’s plan as mere “propaganda” that effectively demanded Ukraine “withdraw from Ukraine.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz went even further, describing it as a “dictatorial peace.”
The summit, held over two days in the secluded Swiss town of Bürgenstock, aimed to discuss the basic principles for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, Russia was not invited, and China – a key Putin ally – is also absent, tempering expectations of any breakthroughs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is attending the event, said his country wants to “give diplomacy a chance” and demonstrate that “joint efforts” can stop wars. But his top aide, Andriy Yermak, clarified there would be “no compromise on independence, sovereignty or territorial integrity.”
On Friday, Putin had claimed he would agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew troops from four regions that Russia partially occupies and has unilaterally claimed to have annexed. This demand was met with scathing criticism from Western leaders.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused the Russian president of “spinning a phony narrative about his willingness to negotiate.” At the same time, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said, “Freezing the conflict today with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land is not an answer.”
The draft declaration expected to be adopted at the summit reaffirms Ukraine’s territorial integrity and rejects any nuclear threats against the country. It also highlights the importance of ensuring the safe transit of commercial shipping in the Black and Azov Seas for global food security.
Despite the diplomatic push, Ukraine continues to urgently plead for more advanced weapons, primarily air defense systems and potentially even F-16 fighter jets, to bolster its defense against Russia’s relentless missile and drone attacks.
The Swiss summit comes on the heels of a G7 agreement to use interest from frozen Russian assets, totaling an estimated $3 billion annually, to help fund a $50 billion loan for Ukraine’s war efforts and economic recovery.
As the world grapples with the escalating conflict, the rejection of Putin’s ceasefire terms by key European leaders underscores the challenges in finding a diplomatic solution that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
