SUMMIT “ALREADY A SUCCESS”
On Monday, Swiss President Viola Amherd said the summit aimed to find paths towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine, based on international law, and define a framework for involving both warring parties in a future peace process.
More than 160 countries and international organisations were invited by Switzerland to the two-day summit at the Burgenstock resort complex, with more than 90 confirmations received so far.
Roughly half will be represented by the heads of state or government, and roughly half are from Europe.
We think it’s already a success because it’s a big number of countries” attending, and “from all continents”, said Yermak.
He said Ukraine was “open to discuss all ideas” from attending countries if they could help to stop the war.
“We want our lands liberated, we want back our people, our children, and we want justice,” Yermak said.
DOOR OPEN FOR CHINA
Of Russia’s allies, China is staying away, while Brazil and South Africa also seem likely to be absent.
“We know how hard Russia is working against this summit,” trying to dissuade countries from attending, said Yermak.
“If Russia is so nervous, it’s confirmation that we are on the right way,” he said, still hoping that some wavering nations will eventually attend.
“We are ready to listen to the position of China,” said Yermak, hoping they would join the process sooner rather than later.
Just as it is for Ukraine, “for China, territorial integrity is important. Nuclear safety is important”, he added.
“They have some days to change this position. We will be happy if a high-level representative of China will be in Switzerland,” he said.
“If not, we will continue to work with China and try to do the best from our side that they will appear at the second summit.”
Yermak said that if the war in Ukraine could be ended, it would show that “world leaders are really able, together, to settle such a serious problem”, which could lay a template for resolving future conflicts.
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