Summit decision at a glance
Russia should abandon occupied nuclear power plant
16.06.2024, 20:21
At the peace summit in Switzerland, many participants agreed on general demands for peace and the sovereignty of Ukraine. But the conference also brought three very specific resolutions. These concern prisoners of war, the transport of food and a nuclear power plant.
At the Ukraine conference in Switzerland, over 90 countries outlined the basic principles for possible peace talks between Kiev and Moscow. The vast majority of participants called for the participation of “all parties” in a peace process and at the same time stressed the importance of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders. The final declaration was supported by a very large majority of the participating countries, but not by many BRICS states such as India or Brazil.
The final declaration states: “We believe that achieving peace requires the involvement of and dialogue between all parties.” It emphasized “the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine.”
In addition, 80 of the 93 participating states agreed on three concrete points, which, among other things, are based on the Website of the Swiss Foreign Office:
“First, any use of nuclear energy and nuclear facilities must be safe, secure, guarded and environmentally sound. Ukrainian nuclear power plants and facilities, including the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, must be operated safely and securely under the full sovereign control of Ukraine and in accordance with IAEA principles and under its supervision. Any threat or use of nuclear weapons in connection with the ongoing war against Ukraine is unacceptable.”
Food security is not a weapon
“Secondly, global food security depends on the uninterrupted production and supply of food. In this regard, free, unrestricted and safe commercial shipping and access to ports in the Black and Azov Seas are crucial. Attacks on commercial vessels in ports and along the entire route, as well as on civilian ports and civilian port infrastructure, are unacceptable. Food security must not be weaponized in any way. Ukrainian agricultural products should be supplied safely and unhindered to interested third countries.”
“Third, all prisoners of war must be released through full exchange. All deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children and all other Ukrainian civilians who have been illegally detained must be returned to Ukraine.”
The document also explicitly blames Russia for the “ongoing war against Ukraine”, which continues to cause “widespread human suffering and destruction” and “creates risks and crises with global implications”.
Selenskyj complains about lack of military aid
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian leadership was “not ready for a just peace.” Peace talks could begin “tomorrow” if Russian troops withdrew from Ukraine. At the same time, Zelensky complained that military aid for his country was not enough to win the war.
However, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others, did not agree to the declaration. Previously, several participants in the Ukraine peace conference on the Bürgenstock, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, had called for Russia to be included in future conferences.
Ukraine had proposed inviting Moscow to another meeting at which a joint peace plan agreed upon by all participants could be presented. Swiss President Viola Amherd stressed, however, that it was still unclear how and when Russia could be included in the process.
Representatives from a total of 92 countries took part in the two-day talks, including numerous heads of state and government. Russia was not invited, and China was not represented either.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric said at the final press conference in Switzerland that the meeting was “not about NATO, left or right political beliefs or the North versus South debate.” Rather, it was “about respect for international law and human rights as fundamental principles of our coexistence.”
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo stressed that Africa was “the biggest victim” of the war in Ukraine. The consequences of the Russian invasion for Ukraine’s food exports extended far beyond the borders of Europe and affected some of the poorest countries in the world.