The leaders of Italy and Germany have strongly rejected the terms of a ceasefire proposed by Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine, and dozens of countries gathered in Switzerland for a summit to discuss ending the conflict.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni called the Russian president’s plan “propaganda,” effectively suggesting that Ukraine “must withdraw its troops from Ukraine.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed it as “authoritarian peace”.
On Friday, Putin claimed he would agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew its troops from four regions that Russia partially occupied and claimed it was annexing.
“There will be no compromise on independence, sovereignty or territorial integrity,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff Andrei Yermak told the BBC at the Swiss summit.
Putin revealed his terms ahead of a two-day peace summit in Ukraine aimed at discussing basic principles for ending the war.
More than 90 countries and global institutions participated in the event. It was the largest rally in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion.
But Russia was not invited, and key Russian ally China did not attend, so expectations for significant progress at this stage are low.
Commenting on Putin’s proposal, Ms Meloni said: “It doesn’t seem to me to be particularly effective as a negotiating proposal to tell Ukraine that it must withdraw its troops from Ukraine.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused the Russian president of “making up false stories to show that he is willing to negotiate”.
Countries that supply arms to Russia are “on the wrong side of history,” he added.
Ukraine has already hailed the gathering, held at a secluded location in Bürgenstock, as a success, citing its global reach and the number of countries represented.
Zelensky said Ukraine wanted to “give diplomacy a chance” and show that “working together” could prevent war.
“I believe we will witness history being made at the summit. May a just peace be established as soon as possible,” he said.
His aide, Mr. Yermak, an influential figure in Ukrainian politics, brushed off China’s absence and suggested that when a joint plan for peace talks is ready, it could be presented to Russia.
“We think this may happen at the second leaders’ summit,” he said.
Putin has ruled out any kind of peace process on Ukraine’s terms. The four Ukrainian regions he wants Ukraine to withdraw from are only partially occupied by Russia, which Russia says it will annex in 2022.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “freezing today’s conflict with foreign forces occupying Ukrainian soil is not the answer”.
“In fact, this is a recipe for future aggressive wars,” she said.
Putin’s ceasefire terms were called “against common sense” by Ukraine.
