‘Peace conference’ starts, Ukrainians only want peace once Russia is expelled

There is a peace summit for Ukraine in Switzerland this weekend. According to the Swiss government, the meeting should “inspire a future peace process.” But the other most important player – Russia – was not invited and had made it clear in advance that they did not want to be there anyway.

On the eve of the summit, President Putin suggested that he would be open to negotiations as long as Ukraine gives up occupied territory. The proposal was immediately rejected by Ukraine.

‘Don’t give in’

“We would like peace today,” Natalia says on the street in Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine. “But not if we have to sacrifice land or anything else. We gave up all our nuclear weapons before.”

Because, they think in Ukraine, Russia cannot get away with aggression. Ten years ago, the country began the occupation of Crimea and part of the Donbas. Then Ukraine decided to freeze that conflict, says student Semen (20). “If we do that again now, Russia will do it again in five or ten years.”

Some Ukrainians have adjusted their expectations. At the beginning of the war, student Sergei wanted Russia to be completely defeated in Ukraine. “Now I simply want the fighting to stop. And for Russia to withdraw from our territory.”

Although research shows that Ukrainians are increasingly open to negotiations, this comes with an important condition: Russia must return occupied territory. The opposite of what Putin sets as a condition for negotiations: that Ukraine gives up occupied territory.

A recent poll by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank found that most Ukrainians still think victory is possible. Although the group that thinks Ukraine is winning is about the same size as the group that thinks neither party is winning (about 40 percent).

Differences between generations of Ukrainians

When it comes down to fighting until all occupied territory is liberated, a striking distinction emerges. Only 40 percent of Ukrainians between the ages of 18 and 25 believe that the country should continue to fight until all occupied territory has been reconquered. This is 60 percent for the generation over 60 years old.

According to the think tank, this can be explained by the fact that the younger generation will have to fight the war. Older people also watch the government-controlled public channel more often, where predominantly optimistic reporting is shared that, according to critics, is more like propaganda.

What almost all Ukrainians agree with is that peace negotiations on Russian terms are not an option. Not even for 47-year-old Olena, who is in the National Guard and comes from the Russian-occupied Luhansk region. “I want to be able to go home again. I don’t want this territory to be given up and remain occupied.”

But whether Ukraine can regain this territory depends entirely on the support of allies, she said. “If we have to fight this evil alone, we don’t stand a chance.”

Chance for Zelensky

The peace summit in Switzerland this weekend is therefore seen as an opportunity for Zelensky to get more countries behind the Ukrainian cause. This mainly concerns countries in the Global South, such as India, which do not dare to show their colors due to economic and diplomatic ties.

Ukraine wants to focus mainly on three points at this summit: securing a nuclear reactor in occupied territory, food security for developing countries that are dependent on Ukrainian exports, and the exchange of prisoners of war.

Zelensky hopes that he will soon be able to increase the pressure on Russia with enough countries. Although Russia’s most important ally China will not be present at the summit either. “There will be no solution to the conflict,” student Sergej concludes. “But I do hope that it will result in some concrete plans and more help from countries.”