The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, who will be taking part in the ‘Summit on Peace’ in Switzerland this weekend, called on Wednesday 12 June for the Summit to be “a first step to a fair, United Nations Charter-based peace in Ukraine”.
The aim of the meeting, which is expected to bring together nearly 100 nations - but not Russia or China - is to discuss how to initiate a process aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. According to Mr Borrell, this participation “indicates robust international support to end the war on the basis of the United Nations Charter”. “This is crucial to reassure Ukraine ahead of any possible engagement with Russia”, he added in a post on his blog.
The High Representative explained that the aim of the Summit was “to develop among the participating countries common parameters for peace, grounded in international law and the United Nations Charter”. According to him, the meeting will focus on a number of practical issues on which to engage Russia. They cover enhancing nuclear safety, facilitating the exchange of captives and the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted to Russia, guaranteeing free navigation and protecting Black Sea port infrastructures, summarised the High Representative. In his view, progress in these areas could open avenues for engagement with Moscow in other areas over time.
Mr Borrell reiterated that “Ukraine’s 10-point peace formula (remained) the most credible basis for future peace negotiations”. He warned that any ceasefire that would allow Russia to maintain its repressive regime in the occupied territories would “reward this aggression”. Moreover, this would undermine international law and encourage further territorial expansion by Russia, the High Representative warned.
“Russia is obviously not ready to engage in good-faith negotiations and would use any ceasefire to rearm and attack again”, stressed Mr Borrell, explaining that its talk of peace was merely a “disguised attempt” to legitimise its war of territorial conquest. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)