Western powers
and other nations continued their efforts on the second day of a summit in Switzerland to reach a consensus in condemning
Russia's invasion
of Ukraine and highlighting the human toll of the ongoing conflict.
A draft of the final summit declaration, seen by Reuters, refers to
Russia
's actions as a "war" — a term Moscow disputes. It also calls for the restoration of Ukraine's control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and its ports on the Azov Sea.
The draft, dated June 13, emphasizes the importance of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
However, it avoids addressing more complex issues such as what a post-war settlement might entail, the potential for Ukraine to join
Nato
, or how troop withdrawals could be managed.
Moscow describes its invasion as a "special military operation," claiming it is part of a broader struggle against the West. Russia argues that the West aims to weaken it, while Ukraine and its allies view the invasion as an illegal act of conquest.
World leaders such as US Vice President Kamala Harris, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron gathered in the mountaintop resort of Buergenstock to build
international support
for ending the war.
Many Western leaders strongly condemned the invasion and rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands for parts of Ukraine as a condition for peace.
"One thing is clear in this conflict: there is an aggressor, which is Putin, and there is a victim, which is the Ukrainian people," said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Over 90 countries participated in the summit. However, China's absence tempered the hopes of demonstrating Russia's global isolation. Recent military setbacks for Kyiv also added to the challenges.
Some leaders left the summit early. Discussions on Sunday were to focus on nuclear and food security, as well as the return of prisoners of war and children taken from Ukraine during the conflict.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that Qatar had assisted in the return of over 30 Ukrainian children from Russia to their families.
"It's going to take international pressure. It's going to take a spotlight from the international community—and not just from the voices from the United States or Europe—but from unusual voices, as well, to say what Russia has done here is morally reprehensible and must be reversed," he said.
Kyiv asserts that around 20,000 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories without consent since the war began. Moscow denies this, claiming to protect vulnerable children from the war zone.
The draft communique calls for the return of all illegally deported children.
Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
praised the summit at the resort overlooking Lake Lucerne as a testament to international support for Kyiv. Some European allies suggested that broader outreach is needed for a lasting peace plan.
One of the summit's goals is to announce the host country for a follow-up conference aimed at building on the momentum created in Switzerland. However, the draft communique does not mention this plan.
Saudi Arabia is a leading contender to host the next conference. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stated that the kingdom is willing to assist the peace process but noted that achieving a viable settlement would require "difficult compromise."
Balancing a strong condemnation of Russia's invasion with language that garners broad support has been a key diplomatic challenge at the summit, sources say.
Russia has dismissed the summit as ineffective. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president and now deputy chairman of the country's Security Council, criticized the event.
"None of the participants in the 'peace forum' knows what he is doing there and what his role is," Medvedev said.
Switzerland faced some internal criticism over hosting the event. Nils Fiechter, a member of the right-wing Swiss Peoples' Party (SVP), appeared on broadcaster Russia Today to criticize the summit as a "farce." He argued that it undermined Swiss neutrality and insisted that Russia needed to have a seat at the table.
The level of support for a final joint declaration remains uncertain. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer sought to manage expectations regarding the summit's outcomes.
"Just to manage expectations, please: The crucial take-away is that we've all come here, that we're talking, that many different nations and continents are talking to each other ... This is the essence of this conference," he said.
"Peace and peace processes take time, working millimetre by millimetre."
(With inputs from agencies)
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