Borrell: Peace summit in Switzerland will be first step to fair peace in Ukraine

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell wrote this in his blog on the website of the European External Action Service, Ukrinform reports.

"The Summit on Peace organized by Switzerland will bring together almost 100 nations from all parts of the globe to discuss how to initiate a process to end the war against Ukraine. The EU fully supports these efforts. No one desires peace more than the Ukrainian people, but lasting peace can only be achieved if it is grounded in the core principles of the UN Charter," Borrell wrote.

He confirmed that he would attend the Peace Summit in Switzerland. According to Borrell, this meeting is not a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, but rather aims to develop among the participating countries common parameters for peace, grounded in international law and the UN Charter.

Borrell noted that the Summit would focus on selected practical issues on which to engage Russia: how to enhance nuclear security, facilitate the exchange of captives and ensure the return of the many thousands of Ukrainian children abducted to Russia, a practice that harks back to darker periods of European history, ensure the return to Ukraine of thousands of children abducted by Russia, which forced remember the darkest pages of European history. Summit participants will also focus on ensuring free navigation and protecting Black Sea port infrastructure.

"The impact of the war of aggression against Ukraine extends far beyond its borders. A protracted or frozen conflict would perpetuate instability and threaten global food security and economic stability. Progress in these areas could open avenues for engagement with Russia in other areas over time," Borrell said.

"Yes, wars generally tend to end with a peace agreement, but the content of this peace agreement is crucial to European and global security, and the international rules-based order. Let's make the Summit on Peace in Switzerland a first step to a fair, UN Charter-based peace in Ukraine," he added.

The Global Peace Summit will take place on June 15-16 in Switzerland. The heads of state and government from all continents are expected to attend. In total, at least 90 countries are expected to participate in the meeting, half of them from the Global South.