On Switzerland’s Bürgenstock mountain, the occasion of Bloomsday saw brown cows serenely grazing in meticulously groomed pastures while international dignitaries consoled Ukraine, promising it an exit from the trials of its past. After 800 plus days of struggle, the outcome of the two-day meeting involving 100 nations and multinational bodies echoed an impactful line from Ulysses: “With sheer resolve, we shall endure.”
The Swiss alpine summit was a blend of high-end diplomacy and worldwide unity, with Fijian and Surinamese attendees amongst others, reaffirming their pledge to the principles of the UN charter, human rights, nationhood, and border irrefutability. This pledge was particularly targeted at conveying a strong message to any eavesdropping Russians – they were standing against everything that Russia was currently assaulting in Ukraine. Space was provided in an open plenum for global leaders to strongly make their point in a three-minute window.
Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish leader, laid out the essentials. The invason of one country by another is unacceptable, food should not be weaponized, and nuclear threats are beyond the pale. If these fundamental principles of international conduct are not followed, then there’s no global order to speak of. Also present, Taoiseach Simon Harris, ordered alphabetically beside Israel, pleaded for an evenhanded application of these global norms and reminded the summit that “what’s occuring in Gaza cannot be overlooked at an international peace assembly”.
In the matter of Ukraine, Kyiv successfully got the meeting to agree upon a final statement that condemned the threat or use of nuclear weapons as “not allowed”. It also demanded the release of all war prisoners and at least 20,000 kidnapped children. Importantly, it defined just peace as respect for “the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all nations”.
Every European attendee, even those known to have friendly relations with Moscow like Hungary and Serbia, agreed to sign the statement. “We need more individuals seated at the next discussion,” Mr Harris expressed. “At some point, Russia’s involvement in this process will be necessary.”
As the famous writer James Joyce once pointed out, absence can make a profound impact; Russia’s non-participation certainly stood out. But the summit made an inclusive effort by providing live-streams and translations in six languages, including Russian and Chinese, thus opening Bürgenstock to everybody.
While the Swiss summit was taking place, Russian president Vladimir Putin presented a peace proposition which necessitated Ukraine giving up territory and ceasing military action. The majority of those present, represented by US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, rebutted the proposition, claiming it “violates the UN charter, elementary ethics, and simple logic”.
During an open plenum, Prince Faisal bin al Saud, the Saudi foreign minister, stated that “any believable procedure needs involvement from Russia and we anticipate the summit’s results to reflect these goals”. Although the final consensus almost contains his exact message, Saudi Arabia did not sign the protocol.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also did not sign the communique. They cautioned that the prospect “continues to be grim if we cannot negotiate an end to the war”. In total, 13 countries refused to sign the document, which includes India, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico and Brazil (categorised as an “observer”).
Last month, Brazil and China, who were not present at the Swiss discussion, proposed their own peace plan. This plan prevents widening the war zone, escalating the conflict, or any form of instigation from any party.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy hoped that more countries would sign the Bürgenstock statement. This would increase the momentum and pressure for nonparticipants to shift. “When Brazil and China adhere to the principles shared by the civilised world,” Zelenskiy remarked, “we would be pleased to hear their viewpoint”.
After spending a hectic week in Western Europe, Zelenskiy strongly denied that his peace talks reveal a standstill in military action. He drew attention to a series of military and economic aid agreements to offset discussion of Western weariness. “The summit shows the continuing strength of global support, it is not waning,” he proclaimed.
Sardonically, the Ukrainian leader proposed that his country does not subscribe to the old saying that gunfire stops when diplomats converse: “I suppose it means Putin is not a diplomat”.
Before leaving, he emphasised to the global media the grave implications of the collapse of international law: “If that happens, then Comrade Putin will be next”.
Meanwhile, what resulted from the Bürgenstock event? Cynics fluent in Ulysses may term it as an unclear response to unassertive questioning. Some Swiss spectators saw Bern influencing the discussions to resist criticism for strictly interpreting its neutrality on Ukraine.
The US praised the meeting as a “critical milestone” for reaffirming the legal groundwork for a fair peace, Mr Sullivan confirmed that they were not the only ones to express this sentiment.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has stressed that the journey to peace in Ukraine will not be a swift one, and underscored the necessity for both perseverance and resolve. Meanwhile, President William Ruto of Kenya, who led a specialist group focusing on food security, was taken aback that some people were not cognizant of the far-reaching consequences of the conflict. He pointed out that even remote continents feel the repercussions, such as increasing fertiliser prices. He further declared, “Any disturbance to peace in one location is a disturbance to peace globally”. Delegates from Northern Europe, who have suffered in the past due to Russia, expressed this during the Global South standoffs. Finnish president Alexander Stubb, whose father was birthed in a region that fell to the Soviet Union, quoted Martti Ahtisaari, former president and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Ahtisaari had observed about war, “What is started by humans can also be ended by them.”