Lyudmila BALKANOVA, political analyst
On June 15-16, 2024, the World Peace Summit will take place in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. About a hundred countries are expected to participate, with the participation of the Russian Federation not being considered. The heads of state and government of the EU countries, the members of the G-7, G-20, BRICS, many other countries from all continents, three international organizations (the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe) and two religious representatives (the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople).
“To prepare the ground for a future peace process and to develop practical elements and steps towards such a process. All countries participating in the Summit are invited to share their ideas and visions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine” – this is the aim of the Summit as defined by the Swiss Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event will discuss the Ukrainian Peace Formula proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in November 2022. It consists of 10 points, including guarantees for radiation, nuclear, food and energy security, as well as guarantees for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
In particular, the 10 points of the Peace Formula include:
1) radiation and nuclear safety;
2) food safety;
3) energy safety;
4) release of all prisoners and deportees;
5) implementation of the UN Charter and restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the world order;
6) withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities;
7) restoration of justice;
8) demining and countering ecocide;
9) avoiding escalation;
10) fixing the end of the war.
The Kremlin, of course, is not at all interested in holding the Peace Summit, and therefore is trying in every way to discredit the very idea of holding it and prevent the event. Such actions by Russia are predictable, they are aimed at preventing Ukraine and other democratic countries from achieving the desired result. Ultimately, the holding of this international event could provide a political impetus for achieving a comprehensive, sustainable peace in Ukraine. The summit will also help consolidate Kyiv's official partners to boost support and aid for the country and provide an opportunity to put pressure on the Russian Federation, including by tightening and imposing new sanctions against the aggressor. And this is not part of Putin's plans at all. In fact, he is trying to discredit the Peace Summit for the sole purpose of justifying his armed aggression against Ukraine, satisfying his imperial ambitions and conquering more and more territories.
In order to prevent the event, Russia first compromised the very idea of holding it, claiming that it would be a photo shoot event where nothing would be decided. Second, the Kremlin wants to minimize the number of countries that will attend the summit, including among countries from the so-called “Global South” (Latin America, Africa, South Asia). Working with them, Russia presents the war in Ukraine as a struggle against “dominance of the West” and “colonial politics”. In addition, Putin promises the countries of the “Global South” in exchange for “non-participation” at the summit to simplify some debts, increase the amount of financial support, make some economic compromises, promises concessions in the supply of petroleum products, food, goods, etc. Third, in order to reduce the attractiveness of the peace initiatives proposed by Kyiv, Moscow is shaping the image of Ukraine as a terrorist state, promoting the idea that the Ukrainian government is illegitimate, supports Nazism, and the Ukrainian people do not seek to fight against the Russian Federation. All this, of course, does not correspond to reality. The Ukrainian people are fighting the Russian aggressor for their freedom, sovereignty, territory and national identity.
The Russian dictator seeks to fulfill his so-called “historic mission” and will stop at nothing. Putin's terrible dream of regaining “historically Russian lands” puts a large number of countries at risk of suffering the same fate as Ukraine. Potential Kremlin targets could include Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and all of Central Asia…
Who will be next? Recently, a growing number of Western leaders have publicly warned that their countries could soon become the target of Russian aggression, saying that Russia could attack NATO member states “within the next few years”. And the Peace Summit will help ensure that this sinister dream of Putin's never comes true, because it is important to stop the aggressor precisely in Ukraine before he goes any further.
There is little time left until the event and Kyiv's efforts are increasingly focused on organizing the event and attracting more participants. According to the organizers' plan, at this international event, the leaders of dozens of countries should discuss together the Zelensky Formula and create a clear plan for achieving peace based on it, which will then be presented to Moscow.
Once again, I would like to emphasize that the implementation of this initiative to achieve PEACE is in the interest of any country or institution that shares respect for the goals and principles of the UN Charter, as well as the values of security, stability, cooperation and equality . That is why the Kremlin's plans to prevent the Global Peace Summit and to discredit it in any way must not be allowed to happen, because this event is another step towards achieving peace and tranquility in Ukraine, in Europe and all over the world!
Source: far-bg.com