Key Takeaways:
– Ukraine’s Foreign Minister encourages Russia’s attendance at the second Peace Summit.
– Sybiha stresses that Ukraine should not be excluded from any peace conversations.
– The minister believes that unpunished perpetrators increase the risk of conflict.
– Sybiha urges conference participants to end violence once and for all.
– He highlights the necessity of returning captured and displaced persons to Ukraine.
Ukraine Takes Stand on Invitation for Russia
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, has aired his views on Russia’s participation in the forthcoming second Peace Summit. During his speech at a ministerial conference on the human dimension of the Peace Formula in Montreal, Canada, Sybiha, asserted support for Russian delegates’ participation in the summit.
However, he emphasized that peace proposals woven without Ukraine and behind its back would not be supported. A strong advocate for his country’s interests, he was clear that Ukraine would not accept peace agreements that failed to uphold its rights and serve justice to the offenders.
The Urgency of Stopping Unpunished Evil
Expressing his concerns with the proverb “unpunished evil returns with more evil,” Sybiha highlighted the importance of ensuring justice. He iterated that Ukraine could attest to this principle through its painful experiences. Moreover, he urged the other participants of the conference to join hands in eliminating this evil, stressing the importance of acting now and not postponing decisive actions against wrongdoings.
Ukraine Seeks More than Simple Peace
Pushing for a respectful and just peace agreement, Sybiha affirmed that Ukrainians are likely the most peace-driven people globally. Yet, he cautioned that peace at any price is tantamount to capitulation, occupation, deportation, and torture. These are conditions that Ukraine refuses to accept.
Bring Home the Deported and Captured
Sybiha placed utmost importance on the conference’s human dimension, expressing hopes that it would pave the way for the return of captured and deported individuals to Ukraine. He voiced optimism that the summit would produce concrete solutions and identify key players to facilitate the comprehensive and effective return of displaced Ukrainians.
Stressing his expectations from the conference, he urged the reconciliation of children displaced from their homes. A successful outcome would enable concrete solutions to tackle this dire issue. Sybiha criticized the current global system for being ineffective, urging collective responsibility to rectify it.
A Powerful Assembly for Peace
The two-day thematic conference on the fourth point of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which revolves around the release of Prisoners of War and deportees, started in Montreal on Wednesday. The assembly saw representation from approximately 70 countries and international organizations.
Jointly curated by Canada and Norway, co-chairs of the working group on implementing the formula point, the conference encourages vital dialogue in moving forward the peace process. The event is expected to yield a joint communiqué highlighting the key action points discussed during the conference.
In conclusion, Ukraine’s stand on inviting Russia to the second Peace Summit signifies the country’s support for inclusivity in peace talks. However, Ukraine steadfastly maintains that it will not support peace initiatives developed without its involvement or those that could potentially harm its interests. The country seeks justice for displaced persons and a means to rectify the current ineffective system – a hope that resonates across many nations.