Volodymyr Zelensky’s Global Peace Summit in Switzerland was meant to demonstrate the world’s support for Kyiv and underscore Russia’s isolation. It did the opposite. Russia wasn’t invited. China didn’t send a delegation. Other major countries that might influence the Kremlin – including Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE – refused to sign the watered-down final communiqué.
According to a former senior member of Zelensky’s administration, Ukraine’s leader had ‘hoped the conference would mark a new benchmark of international support… [but] it just showed how badly we have lost the support in the Global South’. Take Brazil’s President, Lula da Silva. He was one of the first world leaders to condemn Russia’s invasion, yet in Switzerland he accused Vladimir Putin and Zelensky of ‘enjoying the war… otherwise they would have already sat and talked and tried to find a peaceful solution’. In the end, 78 countries signed the final four-point communique which called for Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be the ‘basis’ of a future peace, down from Zelensky’s original ten points which were supported only by the US and the EU.
Donald Trump would veto more aid to Ukraine: ‘Whenever Zelensky comes, he leaves with $60 billion’
Though the Kremlin likes to claim otherwise, Ukraine’s declining support has little to do with Putin’s charm offensive.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in