DAVOS, Switzerland—Representatives from 83 nations gathered in Davos on Sunday to address Ukraine’s call for an end to the war with Russia. The talks, held ahead of the World Economic Forum, aimed to promote Ukraine’s proposals for peace, including the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory. Despite the participation of security officials from countries like India, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, who maintain diplomatic ties with Russia, limited progress was made towards achieving peace. Notably absent from the talks was China, a key ally of Moscow.
The meeting, the fourth of its kind initiated by Kyiv, took place as the war in Ukraine approaches the second anniversary of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion. Although the larger number of delegations at this gathering, including 18 from Asia and 12 from Africa, signaled increasing non-western participation, concerns were raised about Russia’s exclusion from the talks.
Western officials viewed the presence of national security representatives from non-western states as a positive signal, but highlighted China’s absence as a setback. The active involvement of the BRICS alliance, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, was seen as critical due to their relationship with Russia. Switzerland’s foreign minister, Ignazio Cassis, stressed the importance of finding ways to work with China, emphasizing its significant role in the peace process.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, described the talks as “open and very constructive.” However, it remains unclear whether Zelenskyy will meet with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang during the World Economic Forum event later in the week.
The western nations supporting Ukraine and providing military and financial assistance reiterated their position that Russia’s invasion violates the UN charter and poses a threat to global security. On the other hand, some non-western states argued that Russia should be involved in the negotiations and that Moscow’s security concerns, such as Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, should be addressed in any settlement.
Despite differing positions on how to achieve peace, all delegations expressed unity in upholding international law and the UN’s principles. Yet, Swiss foreign minister Cassis expressed skepticism about Russia’s willingness to engage in talks, stating that Moscow was not prepared to take any steps or make concessions.
The talks in Davos reflect the ongoing challenge of finding a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. While the participation of non-western countries brought a new dimension to the discussions, the absence of China and Russia raises questions about the effectiveness of the negotiations. As Ukraine approaches the second anniversary of the invasion, the path to peace remains uncertain.