Buergenstock - President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s desire to "give diplomacy a chance," as Italy and Germany firmly rejected ceasefire terms proposed by Vladimir Putin during a two-day summit in Switzerland focused on ending the war in Ukraine.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the Russian president's plan as "propaganda," asserting that it effectively demanded Ukraine to "withdraw from Ukraine." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed this sentiment, calling Putin’s proposal a "dictatorial peace."

A draft declaration issued at the summit reaffirms Ukraine's territorial integrity and unequivocally rejects any nuclear threat against the country.

Putin's ceasefire offer, made public on Friday, included a stipulation that Ukraine withdraw its troops from four regions which Russia partially occupies and claims to have annexed. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Zelensky, stated there would be "no compromise on independence, sovereignty, or territorial integrity" during the Swiss summit.

Commenting on Putin's proposal, Meloni remarked, "It doesn’t seem particularly effective to me as a negotiation proposal to tell Ukraine that it must withdraw from Ukraine." British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused Putin of "spinning a phoney narrative about his willingness to negotiate," and condemned countries aiding Russia with weapons as being "on the wrong side of history."

More than 90 countries and global institutions attended the summit, the largest gathering for Ukraine since the full-scale invasion. Despite the absence of Russia and China, Ukraine celebrated the event’s global reach and participation.

Zelensky highlighted Ukraine's intention to "give diplomacy a chance" and to demonstrate that "joint efforts" could halt the war. "I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit. May a just peace be established as soon as possible," he stated.

Yermak downplayed the absence of China, suggesting that a joint plan for peace talks could be presented to Russia in a subsequent summit involving leaders. Putin, however, has dismissed any peace process based on Ukraine’s terms, reaffirming his demand for Ukrainian withdrawal from the four regions Russia claims.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen argued that "freezing the conflict today with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land is not an answer," describing such a move as a "recipe for future wars of aggression." Ukraine denounced Putin's terms for a ceasefire as "offensive to common sense."

Participating countries are set to formally adopt the draft declaration reaffirming Ukraine's territorial integrity. The leaders also emphasized the importance of ensuring the safe transit of commercial shipping in the Black and Azov Seas for global food security, and called for a prisoner of war exchange.

The summit follows the G7's decision to use interest from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's defense against the invasion. Approximately $325bn in Russian assets were frozen by G7 countries and the EU since the February 2022 invasion, generating $3bn annually in interest. This interest will be used to pay off the annual interest on a $50bn loan for Ukraine, expected to arrive by the end of the year.

Ukraine's immediate needs include more weapons, particularly air defense systems to counter Russian missile and drone attacks, and F-16 fighter jets, which are expected to arrive by summer. On Sunday, discussions will focus on achieving consensus on condemning Russia's invasion and addressing the war's human cost.

A draft of the final summit declaration, seen by Reuters, refers to Russia's invasion as a "war" and calls for Ukraine's control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and its Azov Sea ports to be restored. The draft communique, dated June 13, calls for the return of all illegally deported children to Ukraine.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned that Qatar had mediated the return of over 30 Ukrainian children from Russia to their families, emphasizing the need for international pressure and condemnation of Russia's actions.

The summit’s organizers aim to announce the host country for a follow-up conference. Saudi Arabia is a leading candidate, with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud expressing readiness to assist the peace process but warning that a viable settlement would require "difficult compromise."

Despite varying expectations, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer underscored the importance of dialogue and incremental progress. "Peace and peace processes take time, working millimetre by millimetre," he said.