Swiss Peace Summit, a two-day peace summit aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine concluded in Switzerland.
The Ukraine peace summit, hosted by Switzerland, has wrapped up with a joint communique supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
But some delegates did not endorse the statement.https://t.co/IlSdtr87VT
— DW News (@dwnews) June 16, 2024
While nearly 90 countries participated, a notable absence was Russia, who wasn’t invited, India choose not to sign the communique.
India at Swiss Peace Summit
The culmination of the summit was a joint communique, a formal document outlining a shared vision for resolving the conflict.
The decision by the world’s largest democracy sparked debate and raised questions about India’s approach to war and its delicate geopolitical balancing act.
Pavan Kapoor, additional secretary in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, represented India at the summit in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, which was attended by representatives of more than 100 countries and organizations, including several heads of state. Russia was not invited to the summit and China also opted not to attend.
India has not agreed to any communique or document from the summit and reiterated that only options acceptable to both sides will lead to lasting peace.
In a brief speech, a senior Indian diplomat said New Delhi’s participation in the summit and in several previous high-level meetings based on the Ukraine peace formula “is in line with our clear and consistent position that lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue, which is how diplomacy can achieve it.”
Swiss Peace Summit Joint Communique
The Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in the idyllic setting of Burgenstock, Switzerland, aimed to be a catalyst for ending the ongoing conflict. While it did not produce a concrete peace agreement, it culminated in a significant document called a “communique” that served as a formal statement outlining a shared vision for peace among the participating nations.
This communique represented the collective stance of the majority of countries who sent representatives to the summit, with the notable absences of Russia (which was not invited) and China (which chose not to attend).
The key objective of the ‘Summit on Peace in Ukraine’ held in Switzerland was to breathe life into a moribund peace process and establish a foundation for a future ceasefire and diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
The Economic Impact of the War on India
The war in Ukraine has sent shockwaves through the global economy, and India, despite its significant size and relative self-sufficiency, hasn’t been immune to its effects.
-
Rising prices and Inflation
Russia and Ukraine are both large exporters of agricultural commodities such as wheat, sunflower oil and fertilizer. The war has disrupted these exports, causing global shortages and rising prices.
High food prices will disproportionately affect low-income households, straining their finances and potentially sparking social unrest.
-
Supply Chain Disruptions
The war has disrupted global supply chains, making it more difficult and expensive to import essential goods and raw materials.
Uncertainty surrounding the war could dampen investor confidence, leading to a decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) into India. This could impact key sectors like infrastructure development and job creation.
The Summit: Rekindling Peace Talks
In a joint communique issued at the end of the peace summit, the signatories reaffirmed their commitment to “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state” and the principle of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine, within their internationally recognized borders.
The summit involved high-level discussions on various topics related to the conflict. These included potential ceasefire agreements, principles for a peaceful resolution, and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine.
A statement from the Swiss Foreign Ministry announced that 83 countries and organizations had agreed to the joint communique at the end of the “Ukraine Peace High-Level Conference.”
