World leaders respond to Ukraine peace conference

“I am now in Kharkiv – a city in the east of Ukraine and, unfortunately, very close to the border of Russia. What does it mean for Kharkiv? A third year of constant terror. More than a million people in this city. And every night, every day, the Russian army shelled the city. Especially with the S-300 missiles. These are anti-aircraft missiles used by Russia to terrorize the earth. Now in Kharkiv there is not a single district of the city and not a single street that does not suffer from this constant bullying," said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in a special video.

Zelensky, against the backdrop of rubble, said that the most terrifying consequence of the war is the scorched void. “A war that we didn’t want in Ukraine, that we haven’t provoked, and in which Ukraine is defending itself from Russian attempts to seize our resources and territories and destroy our national identity. And the world sees it,” he added.

According to Zelensky, this is why a global effort is needed - a peace summit with leaders whom Russia cannot deceive.

“We have confirmed the participation of more than 80 countries and continue to work with leaders to invite them to the Summit. I am grateful to everyone who truly helps peace. I appeal to the leaders of the world who are still on the sidelines of the global efforts to prepare the Peace Summit: President Biden, the leader of the United States, and President Xi, the leader of China. We don't want the UN Charter to burn like these books. I hope you don't either. Please show your leadership in bringing peace,” Zelensky appealed on Sunday.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Zelensky's appeal with words of support for a peace conference both Moscow and Kyiv recognized. This means that Beijing will not participate in the peace summit.

On Friday, Bloomberg reported that Biden will also likely not participate in the peace summit in Switzerland, as the timing conflicts with the presidential campaign being conducted in California at that time.

Kyiv had already expressed disappointment over the Chinese side's expected absence in Switzerland, which is seen as a key player in negotiations with Russia. China and other countries of the so-called Global South expected Vladimir Putin to receive an invitation to the conference. However, Ukraine and its allies do not want to cooperate with Moscow until any preliminary terms for a future peace agreement are established.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, claims that Russia is trying to create confusion at the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland by declaring a desire for a truce. Reuters reported that four Russian sources indicated that Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate a ceasefire.

Reuters cited one source stating there will be no agreement with Ukraine as long as President Volodymyr Zelensky is in office.

Four sources from Reuters suggest that Putin might be ready to be content with the territories of Ukraine that he has gained so far and halt fighting along the current front line. This would mean that significant areas of four Ukrainian regions, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, would remain under Russian control but without complete control over any of them. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated there is no question of returning these areas, as they are now permanently part of Russia under the constitution.

If a ceasefire does not occur, Putin will seek to capture the largest possible area to increase pressure on the authorities in Kyiv, Reuters informants note. Currently, Russian forces control about 43,000 square miles of Ukraine's territory.