DAVOS (dpa-AFX) – Ukraine sees growing support for its peace plan in the war with Russia and is aiming for a peace summit at the highest level. But one can only sit down at the table with Russia if the country demonstrates a serious desire for peace in the interests of Ukraine, said the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andrij Yermak, on Sunday in Davos, Switzerland. Here, more than 80 countries and international organizations previously took part in a conference on Ukraine’s proposals for lasting peace.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis emphasized that agreeing on basic principles for a peace solution on such a broad level could help bring Russia to the negotiating table one day. But there is still a long way to go until a peace solution is reached. Yermak also made it clear that peace negotiations with Russia are currently not possible.
Russia immediately made a series of counter-demands for Moscow’s possible participation in Ukraine negotiations. First and foremost, the West would have to stop supplying weapons to Kiev, said Foreign Office spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, according to the state agency Tass. In addition, anti-Russian sanctions and “Russophobic statements” must be stopped. “But if this rhetoric (from Davos) is aimed at drawing Russia into a psychedelic process that is intended to influence Russia’s principled approaches, we will not allow ourselves to be lured into this trap.”
The focus of the conference was once again the so-called Ukraine Peace Formula. The ten-point plan calls for the withdrawal of all Russian troops, punishment for Russian war criminals, reparations and security guarantees. It was the fourth meeting of its kind. We have to give hope to the people of Ukraine, said Cassis. Moscow has in the past described the trial as a farce.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj was pleased with the large number of participants in his video address on Sunday evening. By participating, they affirmed “that the rules-based world order must be restored – for all people on earth, without exception.”
Yermak also expressed satisfaction that more countries had recently signaled their support for Ukraine and taken part in the talks at the security advisor level. There is agreement here on important issues. However, there was disagreement among Ukraine’s supporting states about how to bring Russia to the table. The aim is to have a developed peace plan in place by the time of a summit of heads of state and government.
Cassis and Jermak agreed that China, which did not take part on Sunday, also needs to be included as much as possible. There could be steps in this direction at the World Economic Forum. Because it’s not just Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj who is expected in Davos. Chinese Premier Li Qiang has also announced his participation.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian war of aggression with Western help since February 24, 2022. Neither side is ready to make any concessions yet, Cassis said.
With such conferences at which a common language is found, the world is better prepared for dialogue with Russia. “The work does not end with this conference,” he said. Senior officials and national security advisors discussed in Davos. An advisor to the Federal Chancellor for foreign and security policy was there from Berlin.
In view of the stagnation in aid for Ukraine, such meetings also serve Kiev to keep supporting countries in line and to attract new ones. Jermak said he was confident that he would receive further support from Western partners – including from the USA