Ukraine Peace Deal in Switzerland : An Explainer

Explainer

By Shubhi Sharma 

Two years after the Russia-Ukraine War, Switzerland has taken the responsibility to organise a peace conference which is aimed at bringing together countries who support Ukraine in this war and to broaden that list and also incorporate countries which have yet, not taken sides in the war. The conference will not be attended by Russia, the other party in the war and is scheduled to be held in the Swiss town of Burgenstock on June 15 and 16.

India is indeed at the top of the list since India has not yet taken sides in the war and has not yet joined the western-backed coalition of countries supporting Ukraine and condemning Russia. The Swiss Foreign Minister met with the Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar first discussed the conference in February 2024. On May 17, 2024, Swiss Foreign Secretary Alexandre Fasel arrived in India to meet senior MEA officials to push India to attend the conference since India has not confirmed its presence. The conference will focus on three major points from President Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan: nuclear security, food security and the exchange of prisoners of war.

The summit in Switzerland was convened at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the objective of convening heads of state, government officials, and organizations to establish a framework for sustainable peace in Ukraine. The summit will be underpinned by the principles of the United Nations and the 'Formula for Peace', as proposed by President Zelenskyy in November 2020.The conference aims to build on other discussions which have been held so far in Copenhagen, Jeddah, Malta, and Davos. Swiss president, Viola Amherd has remarked that a peace agreement will not be signed at the end of the conference, “Russia could then also be present at a possible follow-up conference.” The Swiss government aims to end the summit by a final declaration, backed unanimously by all participants.

Three main objectives have been identified by the Swiss government:

1. Create a venue for discussions on achieving a thorough, fair and enduring peace for Ukraine, grounded in international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
2. Foster a shared understanding of a potential framework to attain this objective
3. Collaboratively outline a plan to engage both parties in a forthcoming peace initiative.

The exchange of differing views has been considered of vital importance. The Swiss President has also remarked that a peace plan might not be the ultimate goal of the conference and a second would be likely held.

Over 160 countries have been invited to the summit, including members of G20, G7, the European Union, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and Brazil), the UN, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), along with two religious representations. One from the Vatican and the other from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Russia has not been invited to the summit, and Moscow says that they would not have attended the summit even if invited since the summit is based on the peace proposals by President Zelenskyy which Russia rejects. Russia has insisted that any peace plan has to be based on the ground realities (Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory and has attempted to annex the four oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson). The Kremlin has dismissed the peace plan as it calls for the return of territories and reparations from Russia.

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia extends beyond the battlefield, encompassing diplomatic efforts and international pressure, all of which contribute to deterring Russian aggression. The summit seeks to demonstrate united support for Ukraine, coinciding with the dominance of the Israel-Hamas conflict in global headlines. The summit aims to give Ukraine a chance to engage with countries, closer to Russia but the efforts have been dealt a serious blow since China has denied participation as it wants both Russia and Ukraine to endorse the peace plan together and had put out its own 12-point plan, setting out general principles for ending the war. President Biden will not be attending the summit. South Africa, Brazil, and Turkey have not confirmed their presence. India will be attending but there are doubts as to, at what level.

The current situation in Ukraine, brought about by the Russian invasion, brings to the forefront a worrisome resurgence in the disregard for internationally recognized borders and the sovereignty of nations. To prevent the emergence of a new era characterized by such territorial ambitions, it is vital to take decisive and collective measures. The upcoming summit holds the potential to make two key contributions: Firstly, it is important for Europe to continue supporting Ukraine by ensuring ongoing energy supplies, financial aid, and defensive capabilities. Secondly, the involvement of strong leadership from non-western countries and emerging powers, who frequently raise concerns about the historical practices of the Western world, is of utmost importance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked in September 2022 that, “today’s era is not the era for war” but rather it, “is one of diplomacy and dialogue”. Unless a decisive decision can be taken, the era of diplomacy will be over. Therefore, leaders from around the world, especially the global south should come together to bring about lasting peace. This will then position them to resolve other disputes and conflicts, tackle climate change, AI and guide the world towards humanity in the 21^st century.

Disclaimer: This paper is the author's individual scholastic contribution and does not necessarily reflect the organization's viewpoint.