The Czech Republic has received an invitation to attend a summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for early August, where discussions about the conditions for peace in Ukraine will take place. Interestingly, Russia has not been invited to participate in the meeting. However, the specific representative from the Czech Republic who will attend the summit has not been confirmed yet, according to a statement by State Department spokesman Daniel Drake on Sunday.

The summit is expected to bring together representatives from approximately 30 Western countries and key developing nations, all with the common goal of garnering broad international support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The United States and Europe intend to empower Ukraine to play a significant role in determining the terms of this peace. India and Brazil are also scheduled to participate in the meeting.

The primary objective of the summit is to establish common principles for resolving the Ukrainian conflict. These principles will serve as the foundation for future peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, with a focus on securing favorable terms for Kiev. Reports from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) suggest that Russia’s exclusion from the August peace talks is deliberate, with the participating nations aiming to agree on a roadmap of peace demands that they will later present to Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently asserted that peace negotiations with Russia are contingent on the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territories. However, Russia has remained steadfast in its demands, which include territories annexed last year.

Recent pressure for peace between Russia and Ukraine has intensified, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed skepticism about achieving peace. While he has not ruled out ceasefire talks, he considers a ceasefire proposal presented at the St. Petersburg summit by representatives from African countries as impractical. Putin cited the ongoing Ukrainian counter-offensive as a reason for his reluctance, stating that Russia cannot halt hostilities while facing attacks.

As the Jeddah summit approaches, hopes remain high for progress in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The exclusion of Russia from the talks signals a united international effort to address the issue and empower Ukraine in determining its future. The meeting’s outcomes will likely have significant implications for the region’s stability and the prospects for lasting peace in Ukraine.

Article by Prague Forum