World leaders began gathering in a Swiss mountain resort on Saturday (June 15) to exert pressure on Russia, demanding an end to the war in Ukraine and planning a path to peace. Absent from this summit were both China and Russia, with Vice President Harris announcing a new round of $15 billion in aid for Ukraine.
Over the course of two days, Ukrainian President and over fifty other heads of state and government convened at the luxurious Burgenstock resort near Lucerne, Switzerland, in an attempt to chart a pathway for Ukraine’s peace process.
According to Reuters, dozens of Ukraine’s allies were set to participate in the talks, while Russia chose not to attend. While there was initial consideration from Beijing to join, they ultimately declined participation as Russia did not partake.
As representatives gathered, Harris announced over $15 billion in energy and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Since the invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s infrastructure has been continually targeted and damaged by Russian airstrikes.
Harris attended the summit on behalf of President Biden. Biden had just concluded the G7 summit in Italy before returning to the U.S. for a re-election fundraising event in Los Angeles.
Amid the Peace Summit, Ukraine faces challenges on the battlefield, with attention diverted to the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas shifting the world’s focus onto Ukraine.
Leaders from France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada, and Japan were all expected to attend the summit. Turkey and Hungary, both maintaining friendly relations with Russia, were also set to join.
Zelensky accused China of aiding Russia in disrupting the gathering, a claim refuted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Sources told Reuters that the discussions were expected to focus on broader issues stemming from the war, such as food and nuclear security, as well as freedom of navigation, with the final draft declaration likely to designate Russia as the aggressor. The summit would also have to address alternative proposals put forth by Beijing.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the meeting as a crucial step forward. “Many peace and security issues will be discussed, but not the biggest. This has always been the plan,” he said in an interview with a global television network, emphasizing the need to nurture this small seedling of peace into a mature plant.
Around 100 countries and organizations were expected to participate in the two-day conference held in Burgenstock, central Switzerland.
Ahead of the summit, Russian President Putin stated that Russia would end the war only if Ukraine renounced its NATO aspirations and relinquished control of the four provinces Russia claims sovereignty over. Ukraine promptly rejected this demand, viewing it as surrender, while Scholz saw it as an attempt by Russia to muddy the waters.
“Everyone knows this was not a serious proposal, but relevant to the Swiss peace conference,” Scholz told Reuters in another TV interview.
Switzerland honored Zelensky’s request to participate in the summit, aiming to pave the way for a future peace process, including Russia.
Zelensky remarked, “The Peace Summit provides an opportunity for every country to express their views and showcase global leadership.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova hailed Putin’s proposal as illustrating the true path to peace, urging discussions on “Vladimir Putin’s proposal…”
Harris is set to meet with Zelensky and deliver a speech at the summit. Biden had already met Zelensky during the G7 summit, where they signed the U.S.-Ukraine bilateral security agreement. Prior to this, he had also attended events in France commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in World War II.
The Vice President’s Office stated that the $15 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and reallocating $324 million from previous announcements towards urgent energy infrastructure repairs in Ukraine and other needs.
The Office further announced, “These efforts will aid Ukraine in responding to the latest attacks on its energy infrastructure by Russia, supporting repair and recovery, enhancing Ukraine’s resilience against energy supply disruptions, and laying the groundwork for the repair and expansion of Ukraine’s energy systems.”
They also revealed that the State Department and USAID would provide over $379 million in humanitarian aid to assist refugees and others affected by the war.
This money will be used to provide food assistance, medical services, shelter, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene services to millions of Ukrainians.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will represent the U.S. at Sunday’s summit and help establish working groups on the return of Ukrainian children from Russia and energy security issues.
Supporters of Ukraine held a series of events in Lucerne to mark the summit, aiming to draw attention to the humanitarian losses due to the war. They also planned protest actions urging the return of prisoners and children taken to Russia.