Kyiv aims to convene a second summit to reach a mutual peace agreement in Ukraine before the US elections in November, with plans to include Russia this time, according to sources.
This initiative follows a previous summit held in Switzerland last month, which saw participation from representatives of over 90 countries but excluded Russia. Some countries sent lower-level delegations, and Ukraine struggled to gain support from key nations in the Global South, many of whom did not endorse the final statement.
Countries like China and several others have consistently advocated for Russia's inclusion in peace talks. China, along with Brazil, has proposed its own plans to end Russia's war on Ukraine.
Ukraine's urgency to organize the meeting before the US elections is partly due to concerns about the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House. The leading Republican candidate has claimed he would end the war by his inauguration in January and has criticized continued US military aid to Kyiv.
Ukraine hopes to use the summit to establish a broad agreement on key principles for a fair peace before engaging directly with Russia. The Swiss summit focused on nuclear safety, food security, and the return of abducted children, which could form the basis for initial discussions with Russian officials.
A Ukrainian official confirmed the intention to hold a second summit before the US elections. Western allied officials emphasized the need for careful planning and clear objectives for any such meeting.
However, some US officials are skeptical about the feasibility of a summit involving both Russia and Ukraine. They requested anonymity as the discussions are private.
During a speech at the Reagan Institute in Washington on Tuesday, Zelensky urged the US to help organize the second summit, aiming to make it “more powerful and truly decisive.”
