Ukraine has been struggling for three years to maintain its sovereignty against Russia’s aggression. There are ongoing discussions about when and how the conflict may come to an end, as well as political debates both domestically and internationally. According to Switzerland’s ambassador to the United States, the moral support for Ukraine remains the same as it was in 2022.

In a recent interview in Washington, experienced Swiss diplomat Jacques Pitteloud stated that if supporting Ukraine was the correct decision based on principles in 2022, then it should remain the same in 2024.

According to Pitteloud, despite being a mid-sized country in terms of economy and economic power, our small size in geography and population means that we will always sympathize with the underdog and support the smaller party. This was stated in an interview with VOA.

According to the speaker, the level of public support in Switzerland for Ukraine has not significantly changed. He stated that most Swiss citizens still view the Russian aggression as completely unacceptable, as it contradicts our values of international norms, upholding the law, respecting sovereignty, and resolving conflicts through peaceful methods.

The representative for Switzerland informed VOA that their country is dedicated to providing ongoing support to Ukraine. The Swiss government has allocated $1.7 billion until 2028 to assist Ukraine.

The experienced diplomat recognized that the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is causing significant strain on European economies and energy prices. However, he stressed that the most severe strain is the unacceptable toll on the Ukrainian people.

According to Pitteloud, there comes a time when individuals simply desire the war to come to an end.

Formula for peace

During the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Swiss officials accepted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal to hold a “peace summit.”

The Swiss ambassador stated that a main objective is to demonstrate unity and convey the message that war is not the answer. They mentioned that 82 countries took part in the fourth round of discussions focused on Zelenskyy’s 10-point plan for peace.

According to Pitteloud, a specific date for the peace conference has not yet been decided. The number of participating countries for the next round is unknown, but Ukraine is hoping for the attendance of high-ranking national leaders.

Pitteloud stated to VOA that Mr. Zelenskyy has openly expressed his desire to hold the summit at the earliest opportunity. We will do our best to arrange a meeting as soon as possible, but ultimately, it will be up to all the participants to decide when the timing is appropriate.

“It may be premature to label it a summit,” he remarked. “A true summit involves the presence of heads of state, but we do hope to gather as many countries as possible for another meeting.”

Russia entering negotiation

In the end, the experienced Swiss diplomat noted that any peace negotiations to end the war must include Russian delegates.

Pitteloud stated that a genuine peace summit or conference requires the participation of all parties involved in the conflict. However, Russia, one of the parties, is currently not present at the negotiations.

According to David M. Glantz, a military historian and former U.S. Army colonel, the internal political situation may be a key factor in persuading Russian decision maker Vladimir Putin to enter into negotiations.

Putin has been playing a very skillful game with the multiple stakeholders constituting the Russian official system, “but there’s always a limit to what can be done,” he said.

Glantz informed VOA that if Putin’s political situation or health declined, his attitude could potentially shift.

If the military conditions worsen for Russia, it could potentially lead Putin to engage in negotiations. The expert on Russia mentioned that currently, Russian forces and Putin are standing firm on their demands for ending the war, which include Ukraine not joining NATO and retaining control of territories inhabited by a majority of ethnic Russians.

‘Over by Christmas’

When asked about what would motivate the Ukrainian government to engage in talks with the Russian government, Pitteloud replied to VOA that it would be up to the Ukrainian government to make a decision after evaluating the situation.

According to Mary Glantz, a previous employee of the State Department and current Senior Advisor at the U.S. Institute of Peace’s Russia and Europe Center, the United States is also mirroring Ukraine’s actions in this matter.

Pitteloud reflected on the length of the war, stating that everyone initially believed it would be over quickly, but in reality, wars tend to last longer than expected.

Source: voanews.com