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A step towards long-lasting peace: what should you know about the Global Peace Summit

Since the first day of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the entire world has had to face the new challenge of upholding justice and restoring respect for international law. More than two years into the full-scale invasion, the need to take steps internationally toward long-lasting peace is still acute.

The Global Peace Summit will take place in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on June 15-16, 2024. Organized by Ukraine and Switzerland, it aims to open a dialogue on ways to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd. Ukraine and Switzerland started preparations for the Global Peace Summit following the meeting in January 2024.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

The Summit continues Ukraine’s peace efforts, including a 10-point Peace Formula first presented in 2022 and meetings held through 2023. It may also serve as a platform for cooperation and tackling security and humanitarian issues associated with the war around the globe.

As disclosed in May 2024, Switzerland had invited the leadership of more than 160 countries, including members of the G7, G20, BRICS, the Vatican, the European Union, the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to participate in the Summit. 

As of June 2, 2024, up to 100 countries and international organizations had confirmed their participation in the Global Peace Summit.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges countries to join the Global Peace Summit from the ruins of a printing house, destroyed by Russia’s attack on Kharkiv. May 26, 2024.
Video: Presidential Office of Ukraine

Focus topics

The Summit will focus on three points of  Ukraine’s Peace Formula that accumulate global interest and affect a large number of states. 

Food security. Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine fed 400 million people through its food exports. Russia’s war disrupted those food chains, left Ukrainian fields contaminated with mines, burned tons of grain, and endangered civilian cargo ships. Despite that, Ukraine is determined to find a way to restore food security for people around the globe.

Radiation and nuclear safety. Radiation knows no borders. By occupying the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia NPP, bringing military equipment to the site, by launching missiles and drones over Ukrainian NPPs, Russia created a global threat – and any form of nuclear blackmail must be stopped.

Humanitarian dimension. With every day of Russia’s war against Ukraine, new war crimes are being recorded. That includes the torture of prisoners of war and the deportation of children. Ukraine calls on all the states to help release those people from Russian captivity and bring back at least 19,000 Ukrainian children.

The overarching objective is to draw up an action plan on three points and inspire a future peace process. To achieve this, the Summit intends to:

  • Provide a platform for dialogue on ways towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine based on international law and the UN Charter;
  • Promote a common understanding of a possible framework to reach this goal;
  • Jointly define a roadmap on how to involve both parties in a future peace process.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to the Federal Assembly and the people of the Swiss Confederation.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Ukraine’s Peace Formula

The Global Peace Summit continues the work on implementing Ukraine’s Peace Formula, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed on October 11, 2022. 

The formula consists of ten points, based on international law and the principles of the UN Charter. Each point reflects the resolutions of the UN General Assembly that have already been voted on. The formula is universal and can be used not only to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine but also to overcome existing crises or prevent new ones in the world.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace formula has already been welcomed by several dozen countries around the globe. A wide range of states should also participate and contribute to the discussion at the Global Peace Summit to achieve its goals.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is ready to see all leaders at the Summit, even if they have different interests or positions on the Russian invasion or “have never sat at the same table before”.

The world majority must force Russia to peace and can do it. In June, the path to a just peace can begin,” the President of Ukraine says.