The summit identified three areas with the least room for discussion. That means protecting food exports, securing nuclear facilities in Ukraine, and accelerating the repatriation of prisoners and children from occupied territories.
“Returning prisoners is our top priority, because we know what our people suffer in Russian captivity,” explains Maksym Kolesnikov. The former soldier was imprisoned for 11 months after his unit was captured in early 2022.
It is said that in Russia they were beaten every day. Most of the other people in his cell were civilians.
But like Volodymyr Zelensky, he emphasized that talking about peace does not mean surrender.
“I went to war for the first time when I was 37, and the second time when I was 45. When I turn 57, I don't want to go to war again,” the soldier said on the sidelines of the summit.
“We want a strong peace with guaranteed independence and territorial integrity.”
Outside of this quiet environment there will be a working group to continue the Burgenstock discussions. But it is unclear how that will extend to the peace plan envisioned by Ukraine and Switzerland.
Both said Russia could in principle be included in the second summit, which Ukraine has hinted could be hosted by Saudi Arabia. The Swiss want to encourage this.
But President Vladimir Putin has shown no real will to pursue peace.
The weekend summit ended somewhat abruptly, a few hours earlier than expected.
It was not an unconditional success for Ukraine.
But this was an opportunity for President Zelenskyy to deliver his main message: that Russia, like a school bully, only responds to force.
Whether it is on the battlefield or in diplomacy.
