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Scores of countries at a two-day summit in Switzerland joined Ukraine on Sunday in calling for \u201cdialogue between all parties\u201d to end the war with Russia. But Ukraine\u2019s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said he remained steadfast in opposing any negotiations that could require his country to cede territory.<\/p>\n
The summit over the weekend drew dignitaries from about 90 countries to a Swiss Alpine resort; Russia was not invited and, because of that, China and Brazil declined to participate.<\/p>\n
At the end of the meeting, most of the delegations signed on to a statement of shared principles like promoting prisoner exchanges and nuclear safety.<\/p>\n
They also said that \u201cfurther engagement of the representatives of all parties\u201d was necessary to proceed, a vague formulation underscoring the lack of common ground on the biggest question hanging over the gathering: When, and how, should Ukraine and Russia seek to negotiate peace?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
With the two countries locked in their third year of all-out war and with no clear path to military victory for either, some world leaders are calling for negotiations and compromise between the warring sides. India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and others repeated that message at the summit.<\/p>\n
But Mr. Zelensky has long argued that a lasting peace in Ukraine can be achieved only with Russia\u2019s full withdrawal. He told reporters on Sunday that once the international community formulated a peace plan, building on the conclusions of the summit, \u201cthen this approved plan will be passed to representatives of the Russian Federation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then,\u201d he added, \u201cwe\u2019ll see if they are ready to end the war.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about prospects for talks, he said, \u201cRussia can start negotiations with us tomorrow without waiting for anything if it leaves our legitimate territories.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
For Ukraine, which asked Switzerland to be the host of the summit and worked to bring as many world leaders as possible to it, the event was important for building global momentum behind Mr. Zelensky\u2019s vision for ending the conflict, which also includes reparations and justice for Russian war crimes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThe ongoing war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine continues to cause large-scale human suffering and destruction and to create risks and crises with global repercussions,\u201d according to the conference\u2019s joint statement, which Switzerland said was endorsed by more than 80 countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
But India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates were among the handful of countries that declined to sign. A senior Indian diplomat, Pavan Kapoor, said<\/a> his country did not endorse the statement because \u201conly those options acceptable to both parties can lead to abiding peace.\u201d<\/p>\n