Day One of the Summit on Peace for Ukraine in Switzerland, As It Happened

In response to Ukraine’s request, Switzerland has convened over 100 global delegations for the inaugural Summit on Peace for Ukraine, set for June 15-16, 2024, at the Bürgenstock resort.

This summit aims to advance the Ukrainian peace formula and other UN Charter-based proposals, fostering dialogue on achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.

Stay with us for live updates as the Summit unfolds.

21:00

The first day of the Summit on Peace for Ukraine has come to an end.

Tune in tomorrow for more live updates.

Slava Ukraini!

20:30

Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, gives an opening address.

“The outcome of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine will have a profound effect not only on European but also on global security architecture.

We should be very careful not to leave the impression that some topics and principles, especially Ukraine’s territorial integrity, are somehow secondary to others. They clearly are not.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, many countries have suffered under colonial wars. So has mine. I know that Russia isn’t typically thought of as a colonial power. Estonia, my own country, went through Russia’s colonization and occupation for almost half a century, up until 1991. I grew up during the last part of that time. My own mother, forcefully deported to Siberia as a baby, has suffered from war crimes that Russia inflicted upon far too many. In theory, it was called peace, but it was peace on Russian terms, meaning mass atrocities, repressions, and colonization.

Witnessing the continuation of Russia’s colonialistic land grab policy today in Ukraine is a heartbreaking reminder of how history can repeat itself.

I really hope this time we are able to learn from our past mistakes,” stated Kaja Kallas.

20:20

President of Finland Alexander Stubb gives an opening address.

“Ukraine is starting the peace process from a position of strength. Much stronger than it was 3 weeks ago,” said Stubb.

20:15

Maia Sandu, President of Moldova gives an opening address.

“Peace cannot be bottled within borders; it must be fostered and spread. Therefore the enlargement of the European Union, a fundamentally peace project, is the best investment in lasting peace and stability on the European continent. Let me be clear: Ukraine’s peace is Moldova’s peace. Only standing together across continents can we secure a peaceful future for all,” stated Sandu.

20:10

Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, gives an opening address.

“In the part of the world which I represent, Russia is often called the prison of nations, and for good reason. It is home to almost 200 ethnic groups, most of which became residents of Russia as a result of the methods used by the Russian people. In Ukraine today, Russia remains the largest colonial empire in a world that, unlike European powers, has never undergone the process of decolonization and has never been able to deal with the demons of its past. As members of the international community, we must finally say there is no more space for colonialism in the modern world.

I want to state clearly: it is solely Moscow who is responsible for the war, but that does not mean Russia is acting alone. I am referring here to the shameful role that Putin’s puppet in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has played in this war while oppressing his own people. I want to remind everyone that not only did he allow the Russian army to attack Ukraine from the territory of Belarus, but he also initiated a series of hybrid attacks against the Baltic states and Poland’s eastern borders, attacks which have lasted for three years.

Ladies and gentlemen, Ukraine, as a victim of full-scale military aggression, has the full right to defend its sovereignty and independence by any means that are in accordance with international law. It is the obligation of the entire international society to spare no efforts in supporting Kyiv in its struggles,” stated Duda.

20:05

Gabriel Boric, President of Chile gives an opening address.

“Why such a small country like Chile is participating in this summit? Not because we are scared of Putin. Not because we have sympathy for Mr. Zelenskyy. It is not because we support NATO expansion to the East, or because we are part of one geopolitical coalition puzzle. It’s because we, as a small country in the south of the world, with our 20 million inhabitants, are aware that only the respect of international law and human rights can guarantee peace. The same applies to the conflict on Gaza. We do not accept to choose between the barbarism of Hamas or the massacre that the Israeli government, lead by the war criminal Mr. Netanyahu, is doing nowadays. Today it’s Ukraine and Palestine, and tomorrow could be any one of us. So let’s keep on working together for peace,” stated Boric.

19:55

Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia, gives an opening address.

“My country, Georgia, can only share the plight of the Ukrainian people that we have experienced in turn, in our turn. ‘Before Bucha there was Abkhazia’ is the title of a film, and yes before Ukraine, the war against Ukraine, there was a war against Georgia, not once but many times. And before the occupation of territories in Ukraine there was the occupation of territories in Georgia. So my country can only share the concern for the human devastation that Ukraine is living through,” commented Zourabichvili.

19:45

Prime Minister of the UK Rishi Sunak gives an opening address.

“Putin has no interest in genuine peace. He’s launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against this very summit, ordering countries to stay away,” Sunak stated.

19:40

Prime Minister of Qatar Mohammed Al Thani gives an opening address.

“Qatar’s efforts have so far resulted in the reunification of 34 [Ukrainian] children with their families, and our efforts continue to reunite many more,” stated the Prime Minister.

19:35

Prime Minister of Japan Fumo Kishida gives an opening address.

“Japan will continue to contribute in a valuable but in a uniquely Japanese way,” Kishida said.

19:15

Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, gives an opening address.

“Peace is more than the absence of war. An immediate ceasefire without serious negotiations, without a roadmap toward a just and lasting peace, merely on the basis of so-called 'new realities' would only legitimize Russia’s illegal land grab,” commented Scholz.

19:10

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen gives an opening address.

“Freezing the conflict today with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land is not an answer. In fact, it is a recipe for future wars of aggression,” stated Ursula von der Leyen.

19:05

Vice President of the USA Kamala Harris gives opening address.

“Putin is not calling for negotiations. He’s calling for surrender,” Harris said.

“If the world fails to respond when an aggressor invades its neighbor, other aggressors undoubtedly become emboldened,” she added.

19:00

President Zelenskyy gives his opening address.

“Now, there is no Russia here. Why? Because if Russia was interested in peace, there would be no war, ‘ Zelenskyy said.

“We must decide together what a just peace means for the world and how it can be achieved in its ruler lasting way. The UN Chapter is a basis for us and then ny action plan is on the table agreed by all and transparent for the peoples. Then, it will be communicated to the representatives of Russia,” he added.

18:50

Opening addresses for the first plenary session of the Summit on Peace for Ukraine have commenced.

18:45

President of Argentina Javier Milei has arrived at the Summit on Peace for Ukraine.

Earlier, information was spread via mass media that he would not participate.

18:30

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte: The peace plan proposed by Putin shows that he is panicking.

17:40

Borrell: Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine shows no real interest in peace.

“The UN Charter and the UNGA Resolution on a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine -supported by 141 countries- translates the principles of the UN Charter into practice. I look forward to participating in the upcoming Summit on Peace, which will reaffirm this,” added High Representative of the EU Josep Borrell on X.

16:48

Vice President of the USA Kamala Harris confirms new $1.5 billion aid package for Ukraine.

“We support Ukraine not out of charity, but because the people of Ukraine and their future is an in strategic interests,” Harris said.

16:40

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets the Vice President of the USA Kamala Harris.

15:25

Yermak: The Switzerland summit aims to develop a new joint peace plan

Participants in Ukraine’s global peace summit will work to draft a new joint peace plan, potentially based on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s formula, Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak told the BBC on June 15.

“We are exploring the possibility of presenting this plan to representatives of Russia,” Yermak noted, adding that this could happen during a second summit.

15:00

Scholz: The resolution of Russia’s war against Ukraine will be addressed at the next Peace Summit.

According to Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, the next peace summit must definitely take place with the participation of Russia.

14:30

President Zelenskyy and Viola Amherd, the President of Switzerland are giving a briefing.

14:25

Yermak: Ukraine is not opposed to negotiations with Russia during a second Peace Summit, but no compromises on the territorial integrity of Ukraine are possible.

“No compromise on independence, no compromise on sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are looking for an opportunity to present this plan to a representative of Russia. We think this might happen at the second summit,” commented Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine at the Summit.

13:40

The President of Ukraine has met with the President of Switzerland, Viola Amherd. They are scheduled to make a joint statement to the press shortly.

“Today, all parts of the world, all continents, and various nations—both large and small—are represented at the Summit,” said Zelenskyy via X.

13:35

White House announces that today, as part of the Summit on Peace for Ukraine and her sixth meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vice President Kamala Harris is announcing that the United States will provide over $1.5 billion through USAID and the State Department to support the people of Ukraine.

13:00

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives at Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland.