The leaders of Italy and Germany have strongly objected to the ceasefire terms set by Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine, as dozens of countries gathered at a summit in Switzerland to discuss the end the conflict.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the Russian President’s plan “propaganda” and suggested that Ukraine “must withdraw from Ukraine”.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed it as a “authoritarian peace”.
On Friday, Putin announced he would agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew its troops from four regions that Russia partly occupied and declared annexed.
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, told the BBC at the Swiss summit that there would be “no compromise on independence, sovereignty or territorial integrity”.
Putin revealed his terms ahead of a two-day Ukraine Peace Summit aimed at discussing the basic principles for ending the war.
More than 90 countries and global organizations are attending the event. It was Ukraine’s largest gathering since the full-scale invasion.
But Russia was not invited and China – Russia’s key ally – also did not attend, so expectations for significant progress at this stage are very low.
Commenting on Mr. Putin’s proposal, Ms. Meloni said: “To me, the negotiation proposal telling Ukraine that it must withdraw from Ukraine does not seem to be particularly effective.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused the Russian President of “fabricating a fake story about his willingness to negotiate”.
He added that countries helping Russia provide weapons “are going against history”.
Ukraine touted the gathering at a remote location in Bürgenstock as a success, pointing to its global reach and the number of countries present.
Mr. Zelensky said Ukraine wants to “give diplomacy a chance” and show that “joint efforts” can prevent war.
“I believe we will see history made at this summit,” he said. May a just peace be established as soon as possible.”
His assistant Mr. Yermak – an influential figure in Ukrainian politics – dismissed China’s absence and suggested that when the general plan for peace talks is ready, it could presented to Russia.
“We think that could happen at the second summit at the leadership level,” he said.
Vladimir Putin has ruled out any kind of peace process on Ukraine’s terms. The four regions of Ukraine that he wants Ukraine to withdraw from are only partially occupied by Russia, which claims to have annexed them in 2022. The voting process held then was denounced by Ukraine and the West as a sham create.
Mr. Putin’s ceasefire terms are considered by Ukraine to “offend common sense”.
