Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has highlighted that the presence this weekend of representatives from 65 countries at the third meeting on his ten-point peace plan, which is being held in Malta, shows that "it is becoming global."
"Today is the first day of the summit in Malta: a meeting of advisers and diplomatic representatives on our peace formula, which is gradually, step by step, becoming global," Zelensky said in a videoconference speech to participants in the meeting in La Veleta and which he broadcast on his Telegram channel and on the website of the Ukrainian presidency.
And he added: "66 countries are represented at the summit and it is a good result. All continents are represented (...) And there is potential to expand the representation of states." The presence of more than 60 countries at the third meeting on the Ukrainian peace plan shows "growing support" for the ten-point peace formula presented by Zelensky, despite the absence of Russia or China at the meeting in La Weather vane, a European source has said.
The first round of talks, held in Copenhagen last June, had only 15 participants, a number that increased to 43 in the second round, held in Jeddah in August.
This two-day meeting in La Veleta provides an opportunity for further exchanges between Ukraine, the so-called "Global South", the G7 and EU Member States on Ukraine's peace formula and issues related to supporting and building a just peace in Europe, added the European source, who also reported on a possible peace summit in the future, with no date yet set.
This source specifies that in Malta there are 64 face-to-face representatives and 10 online, but that some countries participate both by videoconference and "in situ", while highlighting some notable additions to the meeting, such as Armenia, the Holy See or Mexico, among others.
Unlike the last meeting in Jeddah, China is not represented in La Veleta, as are Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, adds the source, who points out that Simon Mordue (chief foreign affairs advisor to the president) is attending on behalf of the EU. of the European Council, Charles Michel) and Bjorn Seibert (head of the cabinet of the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen).
For the EU, the timing of this meeting is important in light of the current escalation of the situation in the Middle East, as holding it now and with increasing global representation demonstrates that the restoration of a just peace is important beyond Ukraine ; This is a global call for respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
The goal of this weekend's meeting is to discuss five of the ten points of Zelensky's peace plan: nuclear security, energy security, food security, release of prisoners of war and deportees, and restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
According to the European source, the nuclear safety working group seeks a global commitment to work to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
Regarding the working group on food security, the source reminds that 32 countries in Africa alone depend on Ukrainian grain and, after withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia continues to systematically attack Ukrainian ports.
Countries made global commitments to create more roads and increase capacities to supply countries in need. Between March 2022 and September 2023, more than 51.5 million tonnes of cereals, oilseeds and related products left Ukraine via the EU Solidarity Routes.
For its part, the energy security task force highlights that it is essential to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure from Russian airstrikes as winter approaches. The humanitarian task force, which enjoys the broadest support of the global coalition, notes that the release of prisoners and people deported by Russia is of utmost importance and is part of a broader effort to achieve justice and accountability , according to the European source.
Participants appreciated the work of those countries - particularly Qatar and Turkey - that have played an invaluable role in mediating the release of prisoners and the return of abducted minors to their homes. Canada will help facilitate the creation of a global coalition to return children home. Finally, the group on the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory considers this point essential for a just and lasting peace, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, the source concluded.
