“This summit is a tremendous success,” U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a speech on Sunday. “You have succeeded in bringing the whole world together,” he declared. Sullivan and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris represented Washington at the summit as President Joe Biden did not attend the meeting due to campaign events.
The summit kept details vague, including deadlines and plans for the next meeting.
“Peace will be a journey,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, adding, “This is not a peace negotiation because President Putin is not serious about ending the war.” He is insisting on surrender. “No country will accept these absurd conditions,” he said.
Zelenskyy said Putin’s ultimatum the day before the summit began actually worked in Kiev’s favor. “Some countries changed their minds after his ultimatum. Even the enemy’s mistakes are successes for us,” Zelenskyy said.
Prime Minister Zelenskyy still insists that Ukraine will talk to Russia only after Moscow withdraws its troops, he said at his final press conference on Sunday. But he said the Ukrainians plan to enlist countries friendly with Russia as mediators to help push for peace in Moscow.
“We need the support of the majority of the world to put pressure on Russia to end this war,” Prime Minister Zelensky said.
Most of the Global South, Latin America and Africa supported the final statement and agreed to assist Ukraine in a series of bilateral-level meetings planned ahead of the next summit, a date for which has not yet been confirmed.
“Unfortunately, Russian influence is still strong. Even after all the terrorism that President Putin has brought to Ukraine, many countries are still trying to maintain a balance,” Zelenskyy said. “Putin knew he could not escape isolation, so his goal was to win other countries over to his side. But he is fighting only for himself.”
