Western powers and other nations led by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron have pushed for an agreement on how to stop the Russian/Ukrainian war during the two-day summit in Switzerland. Despite not being among the 90 invited nations, Russia had called the conference a waste of time and had instead made competing proposals from a distance. Another significant absentee was China.
The conference, which was held on Sunday, June 16th, 2024, highlighted the broad support that Ukraine still receives from its allies. It also addressed the challenges surrounding a lasting ceasefire, as Ukrainian forces have been at a disadvantage following recent military setbacks and delays in Western aid.
Currently, Russia controls approximately 20% of Ukraine. Furthermore, the conference discussed the possibility of a more modest post-war settlement for Ukraine, as well as the potential for Ukraine to join the NATO alliance and the logistics of troop withdrawals from both sides.
Many Western leaders have condemned the invasion and rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands for parts of Ukraine as a condition for peace. The Kremlin has however not ruled out future talks with Kyiv but has stated that guarantees will be needed to ensure the credibility of any negotiations.
Before the conclusion of the conference, President Zelenskiy praised the summit at the resort overlooking Lake Lucerne as a display of international support for Kyiv. However, some European allies stated that a broader outreach was necessary.
Several leaders left early, and soon, discussions shifted to establishing a unified stance on nuclear and food security, as well as the repatriation of prisoners of war and children displaced from Ukraine during the conflict.
