The “ghost” of Russia and going beyond the Western “bubble”: what Western media write about the Peace Summit Dmitry Usik Peace Summit in Switzerland 2024/Collage 24 Channel A major Peace Summit took place in Switzerland on June 15–16. About 100 delegations from different countries took part in the large-scale event, which aimed to take a step towards global security. According to the results of the meeting, 80 countries and 4 organizations signed a communiqué. Unfortunately, not all delegations present agreed to join the final document. Among the “refuseniks” are mainly countries of the Global South. Western media note that despite the fact that Russia was not invited to the Summit, the “ghost” of Moscow was clearly felt at it. The international meeting only reinforced the opinion that sooner or later we will have to deal with Russia. The main theses of Western analysts – transmitted by Channel 24. Spiegel recognises that, at least on the surface, the Peace Summit in Switzerland was an impressive meeting. His final communiqué “had a much clearer tone than could have been imagined,” the article emphasizes. The participation of more than 100 delegations can be considered a notable success. As journalists write, one of the goals was to have as wide a “family photo” as possible. Both Russia and Ukraine are trying to win over countries located outside the European vector, including countries of the Global South. As the German media writes, Ukraine has mainly managed to achieve scale. CNN TV channel notes that such a high level of attendance at the Summit shows that the world concerned about the war, provoked by Russian aggression.Successes Peace Summit
Going beyond the Western “bubble”< /h2>
Edition DWwrites that the Summit in Switzerland was the result of many months of painstaking diplomatic work. The meeting was able to go beyond the Western “bubble” , which traditionally and unconditionally supports Ukraine. However, the meeting on Mount Bürgenstock revealed differences in the vision of the path to peace between Ukraine's allies and key countries in Africa and Latin America. It was also eloquent that some countries ignored the invitation to the Summit.
The joint communique was not signed, for example, India, South Africa, Indonesia and Mexico – that is, countries trying to balance between the parties. As analysts note, the distancing of attitudes did not come as a surprise, because these countries sent not leaders, but ordinary diplomats or officials to the Summit.
The ghost of Russia hangs over the Summit
On the eve of the start of the Peace Summit, Vladimir Putin suddenly announced his “plan to end the war.” It consisted in the fact that Ukraine renounces 4 regions and joining NATO – after which the fire ceases.
Analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) write that the purpose of Putin’s speech was to undermine Western support for Ukraine’s legitimate demands on Russia and to divert attention from the task of building international consensus on punishing Moscow for aggression.
Politico notes that “the specter of Russia hangs over the Summit. Journalists write that despite the fact that Ukraine and other countries quickly rejected the Kremlin's ultimatums, “this reinforced the reality that the Kremlin will eventually have to be dealt with.” The Summit “was spoiled by key “Russia-friendly countries”, including Saudi Arabia, India and South Africa.
Analysts Financial Times note that the Summit turnout was impressive for Ukraine, but the refusal of key countries to sign the communiqué, such as the UAE, reflected Russia's international economic influence.
The role of Russia in the negotiation process
American TV channel CNBC News writes that “the absence of Russia and its geopolitical allies clearly weakens the potential reach and influence of the Summit.”
In particular, as France 24 writes, even The Swiss insisted that Russia must be involved at some point and hope that one day it will join the process.” AP also writes that the organizing country at some point wants to involve Moscow in the process. Hanging over the Summit is the question of how countries will be able to end the war without the participation of the Kremlin.
Also FT emphasizes that The summit considered only 3 of the 10 points of the Peace Formula. Therefore, it remains unclear how Ukraine plans to gain support for the remaining 7 points. The publication analyzes Zelensky’s words about preparations for the next summit as saying that Ukraine hopes that the second such meeting will be the final one. That is, that after it the final peace plan will be handed over to Russia.
As journalists write The Guardian, the goals of the current The peace summit was modest. There was no discussion of what a post-war settlement would look like or Ukraine's hopes of joining NATO. However, the overwhelming signature of the final document “shows what diplomacy can achieve.”
