Ukraine Abandons Fall Peace Summit Plans
Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the national press agency of Germany, has reported that Ukraine has decided to cancel its plans for a second international peace summit, which was initially scheduled to take place before the US presidential election in November. The presidential office, led by Andriy Yermak, was in charge of organizing this gathering, which aimed to unite government representatives and organizations worldwide to discuss Zelensky's plan to end the ongoing war with Russia, which has lasted for over two and a half years.
Summit No Longer Feasible
Ukraine had initially hoped to hold the second conference before the US election on November 5, which could see Donald Trump, a Republican, return to the White House. However, an adviser to Yermak stated on Tuesday that the plan was no longer feasible.
Summit Tentatively Scheduled for October
The summit had been tentatively scheduled for October 30 and 31, or possibly the start of November. However, the Ukraine presidency's office has now announced that the date for the second peace summit will be decided after the conclusion of the thematic conferences.
First Conference Inconclusive
The first major conference, hosted in Switzerland this past June, was attended by about 100 countries but concluded without bringing the conflict any closer to peace talks between Moscow and Kiev. Since then, Russian forces have continued to push back the Ukrainian army's positions in the east, and pro-Kiev forces have increased drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, including recent attacks in Crimea.
Moscow and China Reject Legitimacy of Talks
Moscow was not invited to either the summer conference or the one scheduled for this fall. As a result, the Kremlin has rejected the legitimacy of the talks. China has also stated that such conferences are futile without the representation of the other warring party.
Controversial Aspects of Zelensky's 'Victory Plan'
Russia and China view Zelensky's efforts as an attempt to rubber-stamp his 'victory plan', which he has been promoting in Washington. A controversial aspect of this plan is that the US and NATO allies must approve long-range strikes deep into Russia using West-supplied arms, a proposal that has not received public approval.
Opposition to Ukraine's Path to NATO Membership
Hungary and Slovakia, two NATO countries, have recently voiced their opposition to another part of Zelensky's plan: a Ukrainian path to NATO membership. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico vowed on Sunday that Ukraine would never join the military alliance under his watch.
Peace Summit Cancellation Seen as Win for Moscow
Russian state media has portrayed the cancellation of the 'peace summit' as another victory for Moscow. The White House announced on Tuesday that Biden would not meet Zelensky in Germany as previously planned, as he has canceled all his travel plans due to Hurricane Milton impacting Florida. According to Ukrainian media, Zelensky and Biden were supposed to discuss the ‘victory plan’ this coming Saturday.
Kremlin Emphasizes Lack of Signals for Peace Talks
The Kremlin has also recently emphasized that it has received no real signals from the Ukrainian government indicating an interest in initiating peace talks or achieving a ceasefire. Russian forces continue to capture villages and towns in Donetsk, and the defense ministry has stated that the entire region will soon be under total Russian control.
Global Attention Shifts Away from Ukraine
Much of the West's attention is currently focused on the rapidly evolving events in the Middle East, where Israel and Iran are on the brink of total war, with Washington backing Tel Aviv. Zelensky has started to lose the global media spotlight that characterized the first two years of the war. His recent trip to D.C. was generally viewed as lackluster.
Bottom Line
The cancellation of Ukraine's peace summit reflects the challenges and complexities of international diplomacy, especially in conflict situations. It raises questions about the effectiveness of such summits and the role of international support in resolving conflicts. What are your thoughts on this development? Do you think Ukraine's peace summit could have made a significant difference? Share your thoughts with your friends, and don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.
