UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Criticizes Putin's Commitment to Peace at Kyiv-led Summit

Geneva, Switzerland — On the first day of the Kyiv-led peace summit in Switzerland, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivered a scathing assessment of Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions, stating that Putin has no interest in achieving "genuine peace" in Ukraine. Sunak also warned against the Russian leader's "escalating nuclear rhetoric."

The summit, spearheaded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has drawn representatives from nearly 100 countries, all gathered to show their support for Ukraine and to discuss strategies for ending the ongoing conflict with Russia.

In his address, Sunak also condemned nations supporting Russia, asserting, "They are placing themselves on the side of the aggressor – and on the wrong side of history. Putin has no interest in a genuine peace."

Notably absent from the talks was Russia, which was not invited. China, Russia’s most significant ally, also declined to attend, stating, "an international peace conference should be endorsed by both Russia and Ukraine, with the equal participation of all parties."

A draft of the summit’s final declaration places the blame for widespread human suffering and destruction squarely on Russia's "war" in Ukraine. This language represents a shift from an earlier draft that referred to Russian "aggression" rather than explicitly calling it a "war."

As the summit continues, the international community is closely watching to see how these discussions might shape the future of the conflict in Ukraine and what measures will be taken to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.