The June 2024 Ukraine peace conference is a planned international peace conference in relation to the February 2022 Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, to be held in Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland, ^[1] on 15-16 June 2024. ^[2] The conference follows a series of four earlier international meetings, ^[3] and will be hosted by the Swiss president Viola Amherd. ^[1]

Background

Ukrainian 10-point proposal

In November 2022, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a 10-point peace plan, on the issues of nuclear safety; Food security for Asian and African countries; Ukraine's energy infrastructure; the release of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia; restoration of the 1991 Russia–Ukraine border; withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine; prosecutions for war crimes in the Russian invasion of Ukraine; handling of ecological damage; guarantees against future Russian aggression; and a peace conference and international treaty. ^{[4] [5]} In December 2022, Zelenskyy called for the G7 states to support the plan. ^[4]

Series of four meetings

A series of four international conferences aiming at a peaceful resolution of the February 2022 Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine preceded the planned June 2024 Swiss conference. ^{[6] [3]}

On 24 June 2023, the first meeting was held in Copenhagen, including representatives from Ukraine, G7 states, the European Union (EU), India, South Africa, Brazil, and Turkey, with the aim of building wide international support for a peace process based on the Ukrainian 10-point proposal. A European Commission official stated that there was emerging consensus at the meeting that the peace process should be based on the United Nations Charter principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. ^[7]

A second meeting was held during 5–6 August 2023 in Jeddah, including representatives from about 40 countries, including China, India, EU member states, India, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, Zambia, Egypt and the United States (US). Agreements were made to establish working groups on the themes of the Ukrainian 10-point peace proposal and an ambassadors' group. The aim of holding a meeting at the heads-of-state level was "considered plausible" for later in 2023. ^[8] Kyiv Post described the Ukriainian 10-point plan as "broadly" gaining support at the meeting. ^[5]

A third meeting was organised on the weekend of 28–29 October 2023 in Malta among national security advisors from 65 states from Europe, South America, the Arab world, Africa and Asia. ^[9]

A fourth meeting was held in mid-January 2024 Davos prior to the World Economic Forum, with representatives from 83 countries and international organisations participating, including 18 from Asia, without China, and 12 from Africa. Co-chair of the meeting, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, stated that the meeting had "clarified points up for discussion", that neither Ukraine nor Russia accepted territorial concessions, and that a high-level meeting had not been scheduled. ^[10] On 15 January, following the meeting, Swiss president Viola Amherd stated that Switzerland was planning to organise a "possible peace conference". ^[11]

Exploratory phase and preparations

Following talks with Zelenskyy in January 2024, Swiss officials started an exploratory phase of discussions with representatives of the European Union, China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia in relation to a possible high-level peace conference ^[1] that "builds" on the series of four national-advisor level conferences. ^[3]

On 10 April 2024, the Swiss Federal Council stated that the conference would be held at Bürgenstock Resort in June 2024. ^[1] Possible dates suggested for the conference were 16–17 June 2024. ^[3] Swiss representatives aimed at convincing representatives from a wide variety of states to participate, with Cassis visiting China and India for this purpose. ^[2]

Gabriel Lüchinger of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Ignazio Cassis were responsible for groups preparing the conference. ^[1]

A meeting among security and administrative officials from the G7 and unnamed countries of the Global South, without Russian representatives, was planned to be held in Qatar on the weekend of 27–28 April 2024 in preparation for the June summit. ^[12]

Aims

The conference aims to conduct high-level discussion on a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine" in the context of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and to develop plans for achieving peace. ^[1]

According to The Kyiv Independent, the conference would include discussions of the Ukrainian 10-point peace proposal. ^[3]

Participating states

As of 8 April 2024 ^[update], representatives from 80 to 100 states were expected to be invited to the conference. The possible participation of China was seen as a key issue. A Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that "listen[ing] to the Global South, which [would] play a key role in the eventual inclusion of Russia in the process" was significant. ^{[13] [2]} French president Emmanuel Macron confirmed French participation. ^[14]

As of 9 April 2024 ^[update], the probability of Russian participation was unclear. China was "examining the possibility of taking part". ^[2]

Reactions

Prior to the June summit itself, Zelenskyy stated in late April 2024 that Russian authorities had "a specific plan" for disrupting the summit, including plans to discourage states from participating. ^[15]

References