Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed a gathering of world leaders in Switzerland to find a way to end Russia's more than two-year-long invasion of his country, although the absence of Russian and Chinese officials dimmed the prospect of much progress.
Zelensky told reporters that representatives of 101 countries and international organizations had gathered in Burgenstock, a mountain resort near the Swiss city of Lucerne, for two days of peace talks.
"We managed to bring back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace," Zelenskiy said on June 15, opening the negotiations, accompanied by Swiss President Viola Amherd.
"The leaders and leadership of each nation are equally important to us. And everything that is agreed at the summit today will be part of the peace process that we all need. I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit," said Zelenski.
Leaders want to try to find a way to end the more than two-year war in Ukraine, but the absence of Russian and Chinese officials has dimmed the prospect of much progress.
A day before the two-day summit opened on June 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Kiev to abandon its NATO ambitions and hand over four provinces that Moscow claims it claims.
The proposal, which Kiev called "manipulative" and "absurd" and tantamount to surrender, signaled Putin's determination to continue the conflict, casting a further shadow over the meeting.
More than 90 countries and international organizations are participating in the meetings held in the mountain resort in central Switzerland.
Among those attending are US Vice President Kamala Harris and the leaders of France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Britain and Japan. India, Turkey and Hungary, which maintain friendly relations with Russia, are also expected to join.
Switzerland has agreed to host the summit at the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and is seeking to pave the way for a future peace process that includes Russia. But Moscow was not invited to attend the gathering, which Ukrainian officials billed as a "peace summit."
Even before Putin's June 14 statement at the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Russian officials dismissed the event as futile.
This prompted China, which is a strong trading partner of Moscow and supports many of Moscow's positions on the global stage, to also refuse to participate.
"What can (Zelensky) hope for from that?" asked Daniel Walker, a former Swiss ambassador, in a statement to Reuters. "Another small step forward in international solidarity with Ukraine as a victim of Russian aggression."
Russia's all-out war against Ukraine, launched in February 2022, shows no signs of abating. Despite Russian military losses that US officials say are at least 350.000 killed and wounded, Russia continues to advance.
Last month, Russia launched a small-scale offensive in the northern Kharkiv region, seeking to stretch already outnumbered Ukrainian forces across a front line some 1.200 kilometers long. Efforts have slowed as Ukraine has sent new troops to the area and reinforced positions.
But the lack of weapons from the United States - whose shipments have been halted for months due to a standoff in Congress - has given Russia an advantage on the battlefield, along with Ukraine's inability to bring large numbers of fresh troops into the fight.
Ukraine's casualties are believed to be comparable to Russia's.
The Swiss talks were also expected to focus on broader concerns raised by the war, such as food and nuclear energy security and freedom of navigation, according to Reuters.
Ahead of the summit, leaders of the Group of 7 major industrial nations announced a $50 billion loan package for Kiev that will use interest and proceeds from more than $260 billion in frozen Russian assets.
And US President Joseph Biden and Zelensky signed a security agreement this Sunday that obliges the US to continue training the Ukrainian armed forces for ten years.
Biden, who will not attend the summit despite Zelensky's pleas, also approved sending another Patriot missile system to Ukraine.
The White House also eased restrictions that prevented Ukraine from using US weapons for attacks inside Russia, allowing strikes against Russia with the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv.
Analysts say this is a contributing factor to Ukraine's recent efforts to halt a Russian offensive there.
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