Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing to present a peace proposal to Russia, sparking new hope.
Seeking International Backing
President Zelensky has high expectations for the current peace summit in Switzerland. Gathering representatives from around 100 countries and organizations at Burgenstock, the summit aims to explore potential pathways to peace in Ukraine. Although Russia is not invited, which has disappointed countries like Turkey, the hope is that the meeting will result in a proposal Ukraine can later communicate to Moscow.
In a statement on Saturday, Zelensky emphasized the importance of international support for any peace proposal.
"We must collectively define what a just peace means for the world and how it can be sustainably achieved," he said, according to AFP. "This will then be communicated to Russian representatives."
Striving for a Just Peace
Ukraine aims to develop a peace plan to present to Russia, potentially at a second peace conference, Kyiv Independent reports.
However, the demands Ukraine hopes to include in any peace agreement differ significantly from those of the Kremlin.
Among Zelensky's key demands are a complete Russian withdrawal from Ukraine and prosecution of Russian individuals for war crimes committed during the conflict.
"Ukraine never wanted this war... The only one who wanted it was Putin. But the world is stronger," Zelensky stated.
Putin's Conditions for Ceasefire
Ahead of the Swiss peace summit, President Vladimir Putin laid out his own conditions for a ceasefire and peace negotiations with Ukraine. His demands include Ukraine withdrawing all troops from the Russian-occupied territories of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. Additionally, Putin insists that Western sanctions against Russia be lifted and that Ukraine abandon its aspirations to join NATO.
