Saturday 15 June 2024 10:30 PM
Nafeza 2 world - Ukraine is already presenting the gathering at the secluded spot in Bürgenstock as a success, pointing to its global reach and the number of countries represented.
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine wanted to "give diplomacy a chance", and show that "joint efforts" could stop wars.
"I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit. May a just peace be established as soon as possible," he said.
His aide Mr Yermak - an influential figure in Ukrainian politics - brushed aside the absence of China, and suggested that when a joint plan for peace talks is ready it could be be presented to Russia.
"We think that can happen at the second summit at the level of leaders," he said.
Mr Putin has already ruled out any kind of peace process on Ukraine’s terms. The four Ukrainian regions 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 in Ukraine and the West as a sham.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that "freezing the conflict today with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land is not an answer".
"In fact, it is a recipe for future wars of aggression," she said.
Mr Putin's terms for a ceasefire were branded "offensive to common sense" by Ukraine.
