In a bid to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for China and countries from the Global South to take part in a peace summit in Switzerland next month. The Swiss government plans to host a high-level peace conference for Ukraine in mid-June, but Russia has stated that they will not attend. Despite this setback, Zelensky remains hopeful that with the participation of China and other nations, a comprehensive and inclusive resolution can be achieved.
Zelensky believes that China’s involvement in the peace summit is crucial as leaders from the country have expressed their belief that if Russia were to lose the war in Ukraine, it would be considered a victory for the United States and the West. This could lead to further destabilization of the region and beyond. Therefore, Zelensky emphasizes the need for China to play an active role in finding a balance between the conflicting parties.
The Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited China, highlighting their nations’ relationship as a stabilizing force in the world. However, China claims to be a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict and has attempted to play a mediator role. Despite this, Zelensky urges all countries to send delegations to Switzerland for the peace summit, emphasizing the importance of finding consensus on key issues such as ensuring free navigation in the Black Sea to support global food security, halting strikes on energy infrastructure, and returning thousands of children deported to Russia.
If these three steps can be agreed upon by majority of countries at the summit, it will help prevent Russia from further blocking progress towards peace. By involving China and other nations from the Global South, Zelensky hopes to achieve a comprehensive and inclusive resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
