Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed results of the Ukraine Peace Summit without Russia as ‘close to zero’. Officials from more than 90 countries gathered in Switzerland between Saturday and Sunday to attend the summit. Watch in for more details!

Russia-Ukraine War: Kremlin says Ukraine peace summit produced 'zero' results

<p>The developments from two European cities kept capitals around the world at work. First is Italy's Bari where the Group of Seven (or G7) countries held their 50th summit, and over 1,100 km northwest of Bari in the Swiss city of Bürgenstock where a summit billed as "peace summit" to end the war in Ukraine was held. The G7 consists of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan&nbsp;and France, with&nbsp;the European Union also participating.</p>

<p><img alt="distance" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9df48ed0-926c-4d13-98b8-5880e16a6903" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/capitals%20%282%29.png" /></p>

<p><em>Google Maps | Not to scale</em></p>

<p>In Bari, the&nbsp;leaders "launched the G7 Coalition to prevent and counter the smuggling of migrants".&nbsp;The summit’s final declaration noted&nbsp;that the seven nations would "focus on the root causes of irregular migration, efforts to enhance border management and curb transnational organised crime, and safe and regular pathways for migration."</p>

<p>But 28 months into the war in Ukraine, the top takeaway from the G7 summit remains a consensus on using frozen Russian assets in the Western countries to fund a $50bn loan to Ukraine. Kyiv hailed the move as “a vital step forward in providing sustainable support for Ukraine in winning this war”.</p>

<p>But just hours after that announcement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman vowed&nbsp;that there would be “extremely painful” measures in retaliation. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced it as "theft".&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Switzerland, the peace summit to end war in Ukraine that did not include Russia as a participant failed to&nbsp;persuade major countries from the "global South" to join in isolating Russia. My colleague and WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal has reported on it in detail here.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BRICS position at Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland:<br />
🇧🇷Brazil:<br />
Observer (Envoy), not part of statement<br />
🇷🇺Russia:<br />
Not invited<br />
🇮🇳India:<br />
Present at Minister level, not part of statement<br />
🇨🇳China:<br />
Gave a miss<br />
🇿🇦South Africa:<br />
Envoy level, not part of statement <a href="https://t.co/GbFp6wnZZl">https://t.co/GbFp6wnZZl</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1802332655511613729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Big Breaking: India wont be part of the joint communique of Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, says MEA's secretary west Pavan Kapoor <a href="https://twitter.com/AmbKapoor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmbKapoor</a> who is representing India at the summit; Says, "Options acceptable to both parties can lead to abiding peace"<br />
<br />
Full speech: <a href="https://t.co/0Rj6IQlB68">pic.twitter.com/0Rj6IQlB68</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1802303136222073248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Read more in The Capitals this weekend:</strong></p>

<h2><strong>Cape Town, South Africa</strong></h2>

<p>The Capitals in recent months has reported about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-capitals-pretoria-new-delhi-lead-africas-ascent-in-global-diplomacy-605796">Pretoria</a> as one of the power centers of South Africa. But do you know why we have Cape Town in the spotlight this weekend?</p>

<p>Well, this is because as a country with one of the most decentralised power structures, South Africa has three capitals. Pretoria in the country's north serves as&nbsp;the administrative capital. About 1,500 km south,&nbsp;Cape Town is the seat of the parliament. Bloemfontein, about 450 km from South Africa, is&nbsp;regarded as the judicial capital. But&nbsp;the country's highest court is located in Johannesburg, a short drive outside Pretoria.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the crisis in South Africa was over the African National Congress's loss of parliamentary majority in the recently held elections, the capital in the spotlight is Cape Town.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Friday (June 14), President Cyril Ramaphosa was&nbsp;re-elected as South Africa's president after brokering a deal with the opposition for a government of national unity after his African National Congress's worst election result since the end of Apartheid.</p>

<p>Ramaphosa clinched a deal with the opposition, white-led Democratic Alliance and at least two other smaller parties as the National Assembly held its first sitting since the election and elected Ramaphosa as the leader.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My Acceptance Statement during the First Sitting of the National Assembly of the 7th Parliament. <a href="https://t.co/gmJ0LPylJf">pic.twitter.com/gmJ0LPylJf</a></p>
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) <a href="https://twitter.com/CyrilRamaphosa/status/1801938773007045032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The accord has allowed President Cyril Ramaphosa to win a second term in power. He was re-elected with 283 votes</p>

<p>Once unthinkable, the accord allowed President Cyril Ramaphosa to win a second term in office. He was re-elected by lawmakers with 283 votes in the 400-member National Assembly.</p>

<p>The deal between two sharply antagonistic parties is the most significant&nbsp;political shift in South Africa since Nelson Mandela led the ANC to victory in the 1994 election that marked the end of apartheid.</p>

<h2><strong>Yerevan, Armenia</strong></h2>

<p>In a major setback to Moscow's influence in the countries of the former Soviet Republic, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that Yerevan is freezing its participation in the&nbsp;Russia-led military alliance&nbsp;Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). PM Pashinyan accused the alliance of failing to protect Yerevan's interests&nbsp;from resurgent Azerbaijani aggression.&nbsp;Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan occupied&nbsp;in September 2022. Moscow has traditionally allied with Armenia, but their relations ties have soured in recent months while Moscow’s ties to Azerbaijan have deepened.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Pashinyan told parliamentarians earlier this week that Armenia&nbsp;had “frozen” its participation in the CSTO and would leave the bloc at a time of Armenia’s choosing.</p>

<h2><strong>Paris, France</strong></h2>

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron announced snap elections following a massive loss for his Renaissance party in the European Parliament election. Macron's decision is set to reconstitute corridors of power in Paris amid a resurgent&nbsp;National Rally of far-right leader Marine Le Penn.&nbsp;The first round is scheduled for June 30 and the run-off is on July 7, just three days after July 4 elections in the UK. That's a packed election schedule for Europe in the immediate future.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Tokyo, Japan</strong></h2>

<p>Can you force a real estate firm to take down a property because it hides the picturesque view that was previously visible? Well, a major Japanese developer Sekisui House Limited announced that it will demolish a nearly complete condominium in western Tokyo after nearby residents complained the building partially blocks the view of the iconic Mount Fuji.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Osaka-based company will take down the 10-storey building&nbsp;due to "insufficient consideration for the impact on the scenery." A major win for Tokyo's citizenry here.&nbsp;</p>


The developments from two European cities kept capitals around the world at work. First is Italy's Bari where the Group of Seven (or G7) countries held their 50th summit, and over 1,100 km northwest of Bari in the Swiss city of Bürgenstock where a summit billed as "peace summit" to end the war in Ukraine was held.

The developments from two European cities kept capitals around the world at work. First is Italy's Bari where the Group of Seven (or G7) countries held their 50th summit, and over 1,100 km northwest of Bari in the Swiss city of Bürgenstock where a summit billed as "peace summit" to end the war in Ukraine was held. The G7 consists of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and France, with the European Union also participating. Google Maps | Not to scale In Bari, the leaders "launched the G7 Coalition to prevent and counter the smuggling of migrants". The summit’s final declaration noted that the seven nations would "focus on the root causes of irregular migration, efforts to enhance border management and curb transnational organised crime, and safe and regular pathways for migration." But 28 months into the war in Ukraine, the top takeaway from the G7 summit remains a consensus on using frozen Russian assets in the Western countries to fund a $50bn loan to Ukraine. Kyiv hailed the move as “a vital step forward in providing sustainable support for Ukraine in winning this war”. But just hours after that announcement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman vowed that there would be “extremely painful” measures in retaliation. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced it as "theft". In Switzerland, the peace summit to end war in Ukraine that did not include Russia as a participant failed to persuade major countries from the "global South" to join in isolating Russia. My colleague and WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal has reported on it in detail here. BRICS position at Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland: 🇧🇷Brazil: Observer (Envoy), not part of statement 🇷🇺Russia: Not invited 🇮🇳India: Present at Minister level, not part of statement 🇨🇳China: Gave a miss 🇿🇦South Africa: Envoy level, not part of statement https://t.co/GbFp6wnZZl — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 16, 2024 × Big Breaking: India wont be part of the joint communique of Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, says MEA's secretary west Pavan Kapoor @AmbKapoor who is representing India at the summit; Says, "Options acceptable to both parties can lead to abiding peace" Full speech: pic.twitter.com/0Rj6IQlB68 — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 16, 2024 × Read more in The Capitals this weekend: Cape Town, South Africa The Capitals in recent months has reported about Pretoria as one of the power centers of South Africa. But do you know why we have Cape Town in the spotlight this weekend? Well, this is because as a country with one of the most decentralised power structures, South Africa has three capitals. Pretoria in the country's north serves as the administrative capital. About 1,500 km south, Cape Town is the seat of the parliament. Bloemfontein, about 450 km from South Africa, is regarded as the judicial capital. But the country's highest court is located in Johannesburg, a short drive outside Pretoria. Since the crisis in South Africa was over the African National Congress's loss of parliamentary majority in the recently held elections, the capital in the spotlight is Cape Town. On Friday (June 14), President Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected as South Africa's president after brokering a deal with the opposition for a government of national unity after his African National Congress's worst election result since the end of Apartheid. Ramaphosa clinched a deal with the opposition, white-led Democratic Alliance and at least two other smaller parties as the National Assembly held its first sitting since the election and elected Ramaphosa as the leader. My Acceptance Statement during the First Sitting of the National Assembly of the 7th Parliament. pic.twitter.com/gmJ0LPylJf — Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 15, 2024 × The accord has allowed President Cyril Ramaphosa to win a second term in power. He was re-elected with 283 votes Once unthinkable, the accord allowed President Cyril Ramaphosa to win a second term in office. He was re-elected by lawmakers with 283 votes in the 400-member National Assembly. The deal between two sharply antagonistic parties is the most significant political shift in South Africa since Nelson Mandela led the ANC to victory in the 1994 election that marked the end of apartheid. Yerevan, Armenia In a major setback to Moscow's influence in the countries of the former Soviet Republic, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that Yerevan is freezing its participation in the Russia-led military alliance Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). PM Pashinyan accused the alliance of failing to protect Yerevan's interests from resurgent Azerbaijani aggression. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan occupied in September 2022. Moscow has traditionally allied with Armenia, but their relations ties have soured in recent months while Moscow’s ties to Azerbaijan have deepened. Prime Minister Pashinyan told parliamentarians earlier this week that Armenia had “frozen” its participation in the CSTO and would leave the bloc at a time of Armenia’s choosing. Paris, France French President Emmanuel Macron announced snap elections following a massive loss for his Renaissance party in the European Parliament election. Macron's decision is set to reconstitute corridors of power in Paris amid a resurgent National Rally of far-right leader Marine Le Penn. The first round is scheduled for June 30 and the run-off is on July 7, just three days after July 4 elections in the UK. That's a packed election schedule for Europe in the immediate future. Tokyo, Japan Can you force a real estate firm to take down a property because it hides the picturesque view that was previously visible? Well, a major Japanese developer Sekisui House Limited announced that it will demolish a nearly complete condominium in western Tokyo after nearby residents complained the building partially blocks the view of the iconic Mount Fuji. The Osaka-based company will take down the 10-storey building due to "insufficient consideration for the impact on the scenery." A major win for Tokyo's citizenry here.

The Capitals: Kyiv tests its diplomatic capital against Moscow; and more

Ukraine would hold peace talks “tomorrow” if Russia pulls out of all Ukrainian territory, Volodymyr Zelensky has said at a peace summit in Switzerland. Watch in for more details!

Zelensky: Peace talks tomorrow if Russia leaves Ukraine

Over 90 countries attended the two-day talks at a Swiss Alpine resort at the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, billed as a "peace summit" even though Moscow was not invited. Watch in for more details!

Ukraine Peace Summit sees hard road to peace as way forward uncertain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that the current level of Western military aid being sent to his country is not enough to ensure Kyiv wins the war against Russia.

Ukraine Peace Summit: Western aid not enough to win war says Zelensky

<p>Ukraine&nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the end of the peace summit in Switzerland that Kyiv is ready to hold peace talks tomorrow if Moscow pulls out of Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, nearly 80 countries called for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-summit-world-leaders-slam-putins-peace-terms-as-kyiv-aims-for-broad-consensus-to-end-war-732181">peace agreement</a> amid the ongoing war between Moscow and Kyiv.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Peace talks ‘tomorrow’ if Russia leaves</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking at the end of the two-day summit which saw the participation of world leaders and representatives from more than 90 countries, Zelensky said, “Russia can start negotiations tomorrow if they pull out of our territories.”&nbsp;</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-peace-summit-zelensky-says-peace-talks-tomorrow-if-russia-leaves-ukraine-732351/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The Ukrainian president’s remarks came in response to a question by BBC asking if Ukraine’s setbacks on the battlefield had forced him to consider diplomatic moves. However, Zelensky said that was not the case and Russia’s presence at negotiations would demonstrate its willingness for peace.</p>

<p>While speaking to the press, the Ukrainian president also thanked the world leaders who attended the summit and hailed the “first steps toward peace”. Zelensky said Kyiv is also in talks with some countries who offered to host a “second peace summit.”</p>

<p>This was after reports that no country came forward to host another such meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Ukrainian president also said that the participation of world leaders in the summit held at Burgenstock resort shows that the international support for Kyiv, despite Russia’s pressure, is not weakening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are responding to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine not only with a full-scale defence of human life but also with full-scale diplomacy,” said Zelensky.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Key regional powers, including India, withhold signatures</h2>

<p>Out of the 92 countries which attended the summit, 78 nations called for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to stop the ongoing war between Moscow and Kyiv.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The joint communique which capped the two-day conference marked by Russia and China’s absence was signed by more than 80 countries and international organisations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The final declaration of the summit referred to the Russian invasion as “war,” a label that Moscow has rejected, and calls for Ukraine’s control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and its Azov Sea ports to be restored.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-opts-out-of-joint-statement-at-ukraine-peace-summit-emphasises-on-dialogue-diplomacy-732250">&nbsp;India opts out of joint statement at Ukraine Peace Summit, emphasises on dialogue &amp; diplomacy</a></strong></p>

<p>The final text was signed by the three main European Union institutions and 27 EU member states. However, key regional powers including India, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Saudi Arabia withheld their signatures.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The declaration focused on issues of nuclear safety, food security, and the exchange of prisoners, as well as children removed from Ukraine amid the war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Swiss President Viola Amherd, in her closing remarks, warned that the “road ahead is long and challenging”.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia mocks the summit</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, Russia continued to ridicule the event from afar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“None of the participants in the ‘peace forum’ knows what he is doing there and what his role is,” said Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and now deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council.</p>

<p>The summit is “just another ploy to divert everyone’s attention, reverse the cause and effect of the Ukrainian crisis (and) set the discussion on the wrong track,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the end of the peace summit in Switzerland that Kyiv is ready to hold peace talks tomorrow if Moscow pulls out of Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the end of the peace summit in Switzerland that Kyiv is ready to hold peace talks tomorrow if Moscow pulls out of Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, nearly 80 countries called for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement amid the ongoing war between Moscow and Kyiv. Peace talks ‘tomorrow’ if Russia leaves Speaking at the end of the two-day summit which saw the participation of world leaders and representatives from more than 90 countries, Zelensky said, “Russia can start negotiations tomorrow if they pull out of our territories.” The Ukrainian president’s remarks came in response to a question by BBC asking if Ukraine’s setbacks on the battlefield had forced him to consider diplomatic moves. However, Zelensky said that was not the case and Russia’s presence at negotiations would demonstrate its willingness for peace. While speaking to the press, the Ukrainian president also thanked the world leaders who attended the summit and hailed the “first steps toward peace”. Zelensky said Kyiv is also in talks with some countries who offered to host a “second peace summit.” This was after reports that no country came forward to host another such meeting. The Ukrainian president also said that the participation of world leaders in the summit held at Burgenstock resort shows that the international support for Kyiv, despite Russia’s pressure, is not weakening. “We are responding to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine not only with a full-scale defence of human life but also with full-scale diplomacy,” said Zelensky. Key regional powers, including India, withhold signatures Out of the 92 countries which attended the summit, 78 nations called for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to stop the ongoing war between Moscow and Kyiv. The joint communique which capped the two-day conference marked by Russia and China’s absence was signed by more than 80 countries and international organisations. The final declaration of the summit referred to the Russian invasion as “war,” a label that Moscow has rejected, and calls for Ukraine’s control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and its Azov Sea ports to be restored. Also Read | India opts out of joint statement at Ukraine Peace Summit, emphasises on dialogue & diplomacy The final text was signed by the three main European Union institutions and 27 EU member states. However, key regional powers including India, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Saudi Arabia withheld their signatures. The declaration focused on issues of nuclear safety, food security, and the exchange of prisoners, as well as children removed from Ukraine amid the war. Swiss President Viola Amherd, in her closing remarks, warned that the “road ahead is long and challenging”. Russia mocks the summit Meanwhile, Russia continued to ridicule the event from afar. “None of the participants in the ‘peace forum’ knows what he is doing there and what his role is,” said Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and now deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council. The summit is “just another ploy to divert everyone’s attention, reverse the cause and effect of the Ukrainian crisis (and) set the discussion on the wrong track,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week. (With inputs from agencies)

Zelensky says will hold peace talks ‘tomorrow’ if Russia leaves Ukrainian territories

US Vice President Kamala Harris pledged America's unwavering support for Ukraine and announced more than $1.5 billion in aid for the country's energy sector and its humanitarian situation as a result of Russia's 27-month invasion.

Ukraine Peace Summit: Ukraine advocates for international law, highlights importance of UN Charter

Ukraine Peace Summit: Russia's absence overshadows Ukraine summit

<p>World leaders gathered for the two-day Ukraine peace summit at a Swiss Alpine resort over the weekend slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin and the terms he recently set out to stop the war. Kyiv has sought to use the second day of the major summit to pursue a broad consensus on condemning the Russian invasion and underscoring concerns about the human cost of the ongoing war.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>World leaders slam Putin</strong></h2>

<p>Leaders and representatives from more than 90 countries gathered at the Burgenstock resort in a show of support for Kyiv, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to rally support for an international agreement around a proposal to end the war that he could present to Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-peace-summit-ukraine-advocates-for-international-law-highlights-importance-of-un-charter-732176/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Ahead of the summit on Friday (Jun 14), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-slams-wests-hypocrisy-sets-out-conditions-for-peace-talks-with-ukraine-731812">Putin slammed the West</a> and accused it of undermining global strategic stability.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also said that Russia would be ready for ceasefire talks “tomorrow” if Ukrainian troops withdrew from the four regions claimed by Moscow, and Kyiv gave up its plans to join NATO.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“So far, the West has been ignoring our interests. While they forbid Kyiv to negotiate, they hypocritically call on us to start some sort of negotiations. It just looks idiotic,” said the Russian president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The proposal was swiftly rejected by Kyiv and its allies.</p>

<p>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the Russian president’s plan “propaganda” that effectively suggested that Ukraine “must withdraw from Ukraine.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it “dictatorial peace.”</p>

<p>The United States,&nbsp;represented by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-ukraine-peace-summit-us-vice-prez-harris-announces-over-15-billion-in-aid-for-kyiv-732128">Vice President Kamala Harris</a> – a decision that had riled Kyiv – said that Putin is essentially calling for surrender.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She added, “Let nothing about the end of this war be decided without Ukraine.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, on Saturday, said Putin “made a mistake” by not attending the summit considering half of the United Nations was present.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“And the fact that Putin yesterday came out with this silly peace proposal shows you that he is clearly panicking. So that’s good news,” Rutte told reporters.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Kyiv seeks broad consensus</strong></h2>

<p>Most countries gathered have voiced strong support for Ukraine and demanded peace, while others have criticised Russia’s exclusion from the summit and warned Kyiv that it might need to compromise if it wanted to end the war.</p>

<p>The summit, which did not see participation from China and was called a waste of time by Russia, comes as Ukrainian forces have faced a series of setbacks on the frontline and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has diverted the world’s attention from Kyiv.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A draft of the final summit declaration seen by Reuters refers to the Russian invasion as “war,” a label that Moscow has rejected, and calls for Ukraine’s control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and its Azov Sea ports to be restored.</p>

<p>The talks on Sunday (Jun 16), will be focused on pursuing a joint position on the need for nuclear and food security, and the return of prisoners of war and children removed from Ukraine amid the war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The draft communique, dated June 13, calls for all illegally deported children sent to Russia and Russian-occupied territory to be returned. It remains to be seen how many countries will back a final joint declaration.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


World leaders gathered for the two-day Ukraine peace summit at a Swiss Alpine resort over the weekend slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin and the terms he recently set out to stop the war.

World leaders gathered for the two-day Ukraine peace summit at a Swiss Alpine resort over the weekend slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin and the terms he recently set out to stop the war. Kyiv has sought to use the second day of the major summit to pursue a broad consensus on condemning the Russian invasion and underscoring concerns about the human cost of the ongoing war. World leaders slam Putin Leaders and representatives from more than 90 countries gathered at the Burgenstock resort in a show of support for Kyiv, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to rally support for an international agreement around a proposal to end the war that he could present to Russia. Ahead of the summit on Friday (Jun 14), Putin slammed the West and accused it of undermining global strategic stability. He also said that Russia would be ready for ceasefire talks “tomorrow” if Ukrainian troops withdrew from the four regions claimed by Moscow, and Kyiv gave up its plans to join NATO. “So far, the West has been ignoring our interests. While they forbid Kyiv to negotiate, they hypocritically call on us to start some sort of negotiations. It just looks idiotic,” said the Russian president. The proposal was swiftly rejected by Kyiv and its allies. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the Russian president’s plan “propaganda” that effectively suggested that Ukraine “must withdraw from Ukraine.” Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it “dictatorial peace.” The United States, represented by Vice President Kamala Harris – a decision that had riled Kyiv – said that Putin is essentially calling for surrender. She added, “Let nothing about the end of this war be decided without Ukraine.” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, on Saturday, said Putin “made a mistake” by not attending the summit considering half of the United Nations was present. “And the fact that Putin yesterday came out with this silly peace proposal shows you that he is clearly panicking. So that’s good news,” Rutte told reporters. Kyiv seeks broad consensus Most countries gathered have voiced strong support for Ukraine and demanded peace, while others have criticised Russia’s exclusion from the summit and warned Kyiv that it might need to compromise if it wanted to end the war. The summit, which did not see participation from China and was called a waste of time by Russia, comes as Ukrainian forces have faced a series of setbacks on the frontline and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has diverted the world’s attention from Kyiv. A draft of the final summit declaration seen by Reuters refers to the Russian invasion as “war,” a label that Moscow has rejected, and calls for Ukraine’s control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and its Azov Sea ports to be restored. The talks on Sunday (Jun 16), will be focused on pursuing a joint position on the need for nuclear and food security, and the return of prisoners of war and children removed from Ukraine amid the war. The draft communique, dated June 13, calls for all illegally deported children sent to Russia and Russian-occupied territory to be returned. It remains to be seen how many countries will back a final joint declaration. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine summit: World leaders slam Putin’s peace terms as Kyiv seeks broad consensus to end war

Ukraine Peace Summit Day 1: US gives $1.5 Billion aid to Ukraine | Meloni slams Putin's demands

Amidst persistent tensions resulting from Russia's 27-month-long invasion of Ukraine, US Vice President Kamala Harris has committed over USD 1.5 billion in aid for the country's energy industry and humanitarian relief. The annoucnement was made while Harris was in Lucerne, Switzerland for a summit on peace with Ukraine.

US Vice President Kamala Harris announces 1.5 billion dollar aid for Ukraine during Ukraine Peace Summit

Today, world leaders were scheduled to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, to discuss peace in his nation. However, it is being viewed as only the beginning of a lengthy process without Russia present.

Kyiv rejects Putin's demands for peace, "ceasefire offer cannot be trusted"

President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russia would end the war in Ukraine only if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over the entirety of four provinces claimed by Moscow, demands Kyiv swiftly rejected as tantamount to surrender.

Ukraine Peace Summit: Putin demands more Ukrainian land to end war; Kyiv rejects 'ultimatum'

World leaders began gathering in Switzerland on Saturday for a summit to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine, but the absence of powerful allies of Moscow such as China will blunt its potential impact.

Switzerland: 50 World leaders join Ukraine summit in test of Kyiv's diplomatic clout

In response to a question on the possibility of a nuclear conflict over Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Wednesday that Russia would use all of its resources to defend itself in the event that its sovereignty or territorial integrity were in danger.

NATO vs Russia: Vladimir Putin warns Russia could provide "nuclear" weapons to strike West

WION talks to John Bolton, former US ambassador tot he UN, on the various important issues, including China's involvement in disturbing Ukraine peace summit. Watch this interview for more details.

John Bolton: China making sure no progress is made in Ukraine peace summit

WION talks to John Bolton on the various important issues, including China's involvement in disturbing Ukraine peace summit. Watch this interview for more details.

Former UN ambassador John Bolton speaks to WION: 'A new China-Russia axis could be on the anvil'

<p>United States President Joe Biden’s absence from the upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland would be like giving Russian leader Vladimir Putin a standing ovation, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday (May 28).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Will Biden attend the Ukraine peace summit?</strong></h2>

<p>“If he is not present, it will be just like applauding Putin: personally applauding and doing so standing,” said Zelensky in Brussels during a joint press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Ivanivka in Kharkiv &amp; Netailove in Donetsk region captured: Russia</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-war-ivanivka-in-kharkiv-netailove-in-donetsk-region-captured-russia-726234/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“I believe that the Peace Summit needs President Biden, and other leaders who are looking at the US response also need him,” he added. The Ukrainian president also noted that we know that Washington supports the summit, but “we don’t know at what level”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zelensky said that dozens of world leaders will attend the summit. Biden has yet to confirm whether or not he will attend the conference in the Swiss city of Lucerne on June 15 and 16.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“If you want peace, you will be there and you will speak, even if you don’t agree with something,” said the Ukrainian president.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-urges-biden-and-xi-to-join-upcoming-ukraine-peace-summit-725549">Zelensky urges Biden and Xi to attend Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland next month</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, “And if you want war, you will go to the mob that Russia wants to organise,” saying that countries who will skip the summit are “satisfied with war.”</p>

<p>On Sunday (May 26), Zelensky had urged Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Putin’s close ally, to join the upcoming peace summit.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Zelensky rules out Russia’s participation</strong></h2>

<p>The Ukrainian president reiterated that Russia will not participate in the summit and accused Putin of trying to derail the conference.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Putin is very scared of the peace summit,” said Zelensky, adding that he has been “trying to thwart this summit and continues to do so.”</p>

<p>The Kremlin is also “doing everything” for “further expansion of the war,” said the Ukrainian president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The summit comes as Kyiv struggles to stave off relentless attacks by Russia amid the ongoing war.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-delist-taliban-as-terrorist-group-report-726108">Russia to delist Taliban as terrorist group: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>In recent weeks, Moscow made steady gains on the battlefield and captured several villages in eastern Ukraine. Russia has also stepped up air strikes on Ukrainian cities and the war-torn country’s energy infrastructure.</p>

<h2><strong>Kremlin calls Ukraine peace summit ‘absurd’</strong></h2>

<p>The Kremlin, on Tuesday, slammed the upcoming summit and called it “absurd” because Russia has not been invited.</p>

<p>“The conference is, from our point of view, completely hopeless in terms of finding some ways to resolve the conflict around Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television channel RT, adding that “to seriously talk about these questions without the participation of our country is absurd.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


United States President Joe Biden’s absence from the upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland would be like giving Russian leader Vladimir Putin a standing ovation, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday (May 28).

United States President Joe Biden’s absence from the upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland would be like giving Russian leader Vladimir Putin a standing ovation, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday (May 28). Will Biden attend the Ukraine peace summit? “If he is not present, it will be just like applauding Putin: personally applauding and doing so standing,” said Zelensky in Brussels during a joint press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. WATCH | Ivanivka in Kharkiv & Netailove in Donetsk region captured: Russia “I believe that the Peace Summit needs President Biden, and other leaders who are looking at the US response also need him,” he added. The Ukrainian president also noted that we know that Washington supports the summit, but “we don’t know at what level”. Zelensky said that dozens of world leaders will attend the summit. Biden has yet to confirm whether or not he will attend the conference in the Swiss city of Lucerne on June 15 and 16. “If you want peace, you will be there and you will speak, even if you don’t agree with something,” said the Ukrainian president. Also Read | Zelensky urges Biden and Xi to attend Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland next month He added, “And if you want war, you will go to the mob that Russia wants to organise,” saying that countries who will skip the summit are “satisfied with war.” On Sunday (May 26), Zelensky had urged Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Putin’s close ally, to join the upcoming peace summit. Zelensky rules out Russia’s participation The Ukrainian president reiterated that Russia will not participate in the summit and accused Putin of trying to derail the conference. “Putin is very scared of the peace summit,” said Zelensky, adding that he has been “trying to thwart this summit and continues to do so.” The Kremlin is also “doing everything” for “further expansion of the war,” said the Ukrainian president. The summit comes as Kyiv struggles to stave off relentless attacks by Russia amid the ongoing war. Also Read | Russia to delist Taliban as terrorist group: Report In recent weeks, Moscow made steady gains on the battlefield and captured several villages in eastern Ukraine. Russia has also stepped up air strikes on Ukrainian cities and the war-torn country’s energy infrastructure. Kremlin calls Ukraine peace summit ‘absurd’ The Kremlin, on Tuesday, slammed the upcoming summit and called it “absurd” because Russia has not been invited. “The conference is, from our point of view, completely hopeless in terms of finding some ways to resolve the conflict around Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television channel RT, adding that “to seriously talk about these questions without the participation of our country is absurd.” (With inputs from agencies)

Biden missing Ukraine peace summit next month would be like ‘applauding Putin,’ says Zelensky

The Swiss government said on Wednesday that it will organize a two-day high-level summit in June to achieve peace in Ukraine, however Russia has stated that it will not participate in the plan.

Switzerland to host Ukraine peace summit on June 15-16

The Kremlin has hit out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point peace plan by saying that the plan must include the four annexed regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Kremlin says any Ukraine peace plan must include four annexed regions

<p>The United States still doubts that Russia is serious in talks with Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday, adding that Moscow should end its aggression now and pull its forces back.</p>

<p>"I've not seen anything to suggest that this is moving forward in an effective way because we have not seen signs of real seriousness" from Russia, Blinken said at a press conference in Morocco.</p>

<p>"There is what Russia says and there is what Russia does. We're focussed on the latter," he said.</p>

<p>"What Russia is doing is the continued brutalisation of Ukraine and its people, and that continues as we speak."</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-us-president-joe-biden-stands-by-remarks-on-putin-466750/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>He added, “If they somehow believe that an effort to subjugate only the eastern part of Ukraine or the southern part of Ukraine ... can succeed, then once again they are profoundly fooling themselves.”</p>

<p>Reiterating Blinken's scepticism,&nbsp;UK PM Boris Johnson&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"The prime minister underscored that we must judge Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime by their actions not their words.</p>

<p>"Putin is twisting the knife in the open wound of Ukraine in an attempt to force the country and its allies to capitulate," the read-out stated.</p>

<p>"The prime minister stressed to his fellow leaders that we should be unrelenting in our response."</p>

<p>Russia’s military announced Tuesday it will “fundamentally” scale back operations near Ukraine’s capital and a northern city, as talks brought the outlines of a possible deal to end the grinding war into view.</p>

<p>Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said the move was meant to increase trust in the talks after several rounds of negotiations failed to halt what has devolved into a bloody campaign of attrition.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-accord-needed-to-guarantee-security-say-ukrainian-negotiators-466674" hreflang="en">Ukraine demands security guarantee; Russia ready to scale down Kyiv operation</a></strong></p>

<p>While Russia portrayed it as a goodwill gesture, it comes as the Kremlin’s troops have become bogged down in the face of stiff Ukrainian resistance that has thwarted Putin’s hopes for a quick military victory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fomin said Moscow has decided to “fundamentally ... cut back military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv” to “increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russia's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said this was one of two steps Moscow was taking to de-escalate the 34-day-old conflict.<br />
He said the other was that Russia would agree to a meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky to take place simultaneously if and when a peace treaty was initialed by their foreign ministers.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sufficient-conditions-for-talks-between-zelensky-putin-ukraine-466749">Sufficient conditions for talks between Zelensky, Putin: Ukraine</a></strong></p>

<p>Ukrainian negotiators said they had proposed at the latest round of talks with Russia that Ukraine adopt neutral status in exchange for security guarantees, meaning Kyiv would not join military alliances or host military bases.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Medinsky said: "These proposals will be considered in the near future, reported to the president (Putin), and our response will be given."</p>

<p>Fomin said Russia had also called on Ukraine to eliminate what he called torture of captured Russian prisoners.</p>

<p>Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told CNN “we haven’t seen anything to corroborate” reports of Russia withdrawing significant forces from around Kyiv. “But what we have seen over the last couple of days is they have stopped trying to advance on Kyiv.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The United States still doubts that Russia is serious in talks with Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday, adding that Moscow should end its aggression now and pull its forces back.

The United States still doubts that Russia is serious in talks with Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday, adding that Moscow should end its aggression now and pull its forces back. "I've not seen anything to suggest that this is moving forward in an effective way because we have not seen signs of real seriousness" from Russia, Blinken said at a press conference in Morocco. "There is what Russia says and there is what Russia does. We're focussed on the latter," he said. "What Russia is doing is the continued brutalisation of Ukraine and its people, and that continues as we speak." He added, “If they somehow believe that an effort to subjugate only the eastern part of Ukraine or the southern part of Ukraine ... can succeed, then once again they are profoundly fooling themselves.” Reiterating Blinken's scepticism, UK PM Boris Johnson said, "The prime minister underscored that we must judge Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime by their actions not their words. "Putin is twisting the knife in the open wound of Ukraine in an attempt to force the country and its allies to capitulate," the read-out stated. "The prime minister stressed to his fellow leaders that we should be unrelenting in our response." Russia’s military announced Tuesday it will “fundamentally” scale back operations near Ukraine’s capital and a northern city, as talks brought the outlines of a possible deal to end the grinding war into view. Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said the move was meant to increase trust in the talks after several rounds of negotiations failed to halt what has devolved into a bloody campaign of attrition. Also read | Ukraine demands security guarantee; Russia ready to scale down Kyiv operation While Russia portrayed it as a goodwill gesture, it comes as the Kremlin’s troops have become bogged down in the face of stiff Ukrainian resistance that has thwarted Putin’s hopes for a quick military victory. Fomin said Moscow has decided to “fundamentally ... cut back military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv” to “increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations.” Russia's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said this was one of two steps Moscow was taking to de-escalate the 34-day-old conflict. He said the other was that Russia would agree to a meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky to take place simultaneously if and when a peace treaty was initialed by their foreign ministers. Also read | Sufficient conditions for talks between Zelensky, Putin: Ukraine Ukrainian negotiators said they had proposed at the latest round of talks with Russia that Ukraine adopt neutral status in exchange for security guarantees, meaning Kyiv would not join military alliances or host military bases. Medinsky said: "These proposals will be considered in the near future, reported to the president (Putin), and our response will be given." Fomin said Russia had also called on Ukraine to eliminate what he called torture of captured Russian prisoners. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told CNN “we haven’t seen anything to corroborate” reports of Russia withdrawing significant forces from around Kyiv. “But what we have seen over the last couple of days is they have stopped trying to advance on Kyiv.” (With inputs from agencies)

United States still doubts that Russia is serious in talks with Ukraine: Blinken

<p>The Kremlin confirmed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in a four-way international summit in Paris on December&nbsp;9, an attempt to advance efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.</p>

<p>The French presidency said on Friday that the leaders of France, Germany, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-it-will-return-captured-naval-ships-to-ukraine-on-monday-262777">Russia and Ukraine</a> would take part. But until Monday the Kremlin had failed to publicly confirm its attendance.</p>

<p>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Putin would attend, but declined to discuss what Moscow's expectations for the event were.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Russian news agencies in Sunday announced that Russia will return three captured naval ships to Ukraine and is moving them to a handover location agreed with Kiev.</p>

<p>A Reuters reporter in Crimea, which Russian annexed from Ukraine in 2014, earlier on Sunday saw coastguard boats pulling the three vessels through the Kerch Strait towards the Black Sea where they could potentially be handed over to Ukraine.</p>

<p>Ukraine has been pushing for their return as a goodwill gesture from Moscow ahead of a possible four-way peace summit on eastern Ukraine next month.</p>

<p>More than 13,000 people have been killed in the more than five-year-old conflict in east Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces.</p>

<p>Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow`s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, which prompted Western sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy won a landslide election victory in April promising to end the conflict.</p>


The Kremlin confirmed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in a four-way international summit in Paris on December 9, an attempt to advance efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The Kremlin confirmed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in a four-way international summit in Paris on December 9, an attempt to advance efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The French presidency said on Friday that the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine would take part. But until Monday the Kremlin had failed to publicly confirm its attendance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Putin would attend, but declined to discuss what Moscow's expectations for the event were. Meanwhile, Russian news agencies in Sunday announced that Russia will return three captured naval ships to Ukraine and is moving them to a handover location agreed with Kiev. A Reuters reporter in Crimea, which Russian annexed from Ukraine in 2014, earlier on Sunday saw coastguard boats pulling the three vessels through the Kerch Strait towards the Black Sea where they could potentially be handed over to Ukraine. Ukraine has been pushing for their return as a goodwill gesture from Moscow ahead of a possible four-way peace summit on eastern Ukraine next month. More than 13,000 people have been killed in the more than five-year-old conflict in east Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces. Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow`s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, which prompted Western sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy won a landslide election victory in April promising to end the conflict.

Russia confirms Putin to take part in Ukrainian peace summit in Paris

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