Talks on Ukraine started in Malta – Russia not there After call for ceasefire: Israel rejects the EU

A third major international meeting in Ukraine started in Malta on Saturday for a possible subsequent peace summit to end Russia’s war of aggression. “International support for the Ukrainian peace formula is growing”said the head of the presidential office in Kyiv, Andriy Yermak, at the start. Top diplomats and national security advisors from many countries will meet at the conference this weekend. Jermak spoke of 65 states represented, significantly more than in Saudi Arabia in the summer.

Ukraine is expected to use the two days of negotiations through Sunday as an opportunity to build support for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan. The core of the ten-point ‘peace formula’ provides for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country. As with the previous conferences in Copenhagen and Jeddah, the topics of energy, food and nuclear security, as well as humanitarian issues and the restoration of Ukraine’s borders, will also be discussed.

“This is truly a demonstration that the world is interested in justice and in a victory for Ukraine,” Yermak said, referring to the meeting in Malta. “Russia’s misrepresentation about declining interest in Ukraine has not materialized.”

Russia with criticism

Russia has not been invited and criticizes the talks as a “clearly anti-Russian event”. China, which launched its own peace initiative as an ally of Russia, is reportedly staying away this time, unlike in the summer. The US, Germany, Britain and the European Union are considered Ukraine’s main supporters.

Nevertheless, Ukraine is concerned about the eroding support in the West. There are also discussions about billions in aid in the US. Before the meeting, Yermak said in an interview on the American television channel Fox that Kiev continues to count on Washington’s help. “Our victory will be a shared victory because a Russian defeat is in the strategic and political interest of the United States.” At the same time, he said, “And winning this war will be very difficult – if not impossible without the help of the United States and other partners.” (saw/sda/dpa)