German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has set the agenda for a peace summit on Ukraine's 10-point peace formula in Switzerland next month, focusing on narrow goals to ensure attendance of China and other Global South nations. The talks will cover the safety of nuclear power plants, grain exports, prisoner exchanges, and a necessary taboo on the use of nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's seaborne grain and oilseed exports are approaching prewar levels. In the past six months, Ukraine has exported 27.6 million metric tons of grain and oilseed through the Black Sea, just 0.2 million metric tons short of the average export volume in the same period before Russia's invasion in February 2022.
However, diplomats are focusing on minimal goals for the summit to ensure attendance from skeptical Global South nations. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that representatives from Cape Verde will be the first African country to participate in the peace summit.
Despite these positive developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his campaign against Ukraine unabated. In April, Russian troops launched a surprise offensive in the Kharkiv region, forcing thousands to evacuate and requiring Ukrainian reinforcements.
Scholz warned that nobody should have excessive expectations for the summit and likened it to a delicate little flower. Switzerland has invited more than 160 delegations to attend, although Russia is not currently on the list.
The attendance of key players like China remains uncertain, as they have yet to confirm their participation in the talks.
Ukraine would need support for a long time, Scholz said.
