Neighbours from all over gathered after a violent house invasion and wrung their hands. There were 90 of them. They tut-tutted. Shook their heads in disapproval. The invaders were refusing to leave, so the neighbours spoke of drawing up a peace plan. They hoped the invaders might negotiate … to compromise. Perhaps, they hoped, the homeowners would give the invaders the second bedroom if they just left the house.
The neighbours expressed concern for the victims of the invasion, took a selfie and went home. The invaders continued to trash the house.
That, in a nutshell, is the story of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland (June 15-16, 2024).
‘BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland, June 16 (Reuters) – Western powers and their allies at a summit in Switzerland denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Sunday, but they failed to persuade major non-aligned states to join their final statement, and no country came forward to host a sequel.’
Reuters continued its report: ‘Russia ridiculed the event from afar. A decision by China to stay away all but assured that the summit would fail to achieve Ukraine’s goal of persuading major countries from the “global South” to join in isolating Russia.
‘Brazil attended only as an “observer”. And in the end, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Africa all withheld their signatures from the summit communique, even though some contentious issues were omitted in the hope of drawing wider support.’
The final statement said blah, blah, blah, ‘…The UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty … can and will serve as a basis for achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.’
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said it was conceivable that a follow-up summit could be held before the US presidential election in November. Aah, whoopee!
That, in a nutshell, is the story of the West’s flabby response to aggressive regimes. Talk, take a selfie, and issue some puffed-up statement (they call it ‘communique’ to sound authoritative).
‘That’s nooo how ye treat criminals!’ my Scottish friend commented.
In reality, the Global Peace Summit has made things worse for Ukraine’s prospects in their defensive war against Russia. It has confirmed Russian President Putin’s belief that the West (it’s current leadership) is weak and lacks resolve. He has managed with impunity to not only break international law but contravened the 1994 Budapest Agreement in which Russia, the US and the UK guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty in exchange for Ukraine’s huge nuclear stockpile.
What are the consequences? What is the punishment for breaking the law? For trashing the Memorandum? What will law-abiding members of the international community do? Get dressed up, make speeches, and take selfies.
Now, you may ask, what should be done? President Zelensky has often told us what should be done. Be resolute: commit wholeheartedly to supporting Ukraine’s defence with the weapons requested as rapidly as possible. That should have been done from the start. It can still be done. The US and the UK are entitled (obliged, I would have thought) to not only provide arms-length assistance urgently, they should take an aggressive stance. They just need the leadership. When Putin threatens – threaten back. He’s in the wrong.
Of course, as the Irishman giving a tourist directions from Killarney to Tipperary said, ‘If I were you, I wouldna start from here, Paddy…’
Andrew L. Urban is the co-author of Zelensky the Unlikely Hero andZelensky the Frontline President, (Wilkinson)
