Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy predicted “history being made” at a Swiss-hosted peace summit on Saturday, which aims to plot the first steps towards ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
Mr Zelenskyy was joined on stage by Swiss President Viola Amherd as they outlined the issues the 92 global delegates, including representatives from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, will be aiming to tackle when the two-day summit starts on Saturday evening.
Due to Russia boycotting the talks, few big breakthroughs are expected to happen, but President Amherd said the summit will start the process towards a "comprehensive just and lasting peace".
"We will not be able to negotiate peace for Ukraine here but we wish to inspire a process for lasting peace and we wish to take concrete steps in this direction," she said.
"For these reasons we have decided to organise this conference at the request of Ukraine. Switzerland is committed to peace and dialogue as a small but highly globally interconnected country.
"The UN forms the basis of a rules-based order and Russia's attack violates this in the most serious way. People in the war zones have been experiencing immeasurable suffering for almost two and a half years. The erosion of respect for international law harms not only them but everyone in the long run," President Amherd added.
"If we wish to inspire a process towards peace, Russia must also be involved at some point in time that is clear to all. As an international community we can prepare the ground for direct talks between the warring parties. That is what we are here for.
President Amherd said discussions will focus on nuclear safety, food security, prisoner exchanges, the release of Ukrainian civilians and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.
Ahead of the talks, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that any credible peace talks on the war in Ukraine will need Russia's participation and that it would involve "difficult compromise".
"We believe it is important that the international community encourage any step towards serious negotiations, which will require difficult compromise as part of a road map that leads to peace," he said.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Russia’s allies are “on the wrong side of history” and urged them not to provide support for Moscow
“They should look at Bucha, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and they should reflect on the choice they have made", he said
“They are placing themselves on the side of the aggressor – and on the wrong side of history. Mr Putin has no interest in a genuine peace."
Mr Zelenskyy already sought to cast the gathering as a success, saying: “We have succeeded in bringing back to the world the idea that joint efforts can stop war and establish a just peace.
“I believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit."
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the conference ”just another ploy to divert everyone’s attention”.
The International Crisis Group, an advisory firm that works to end conflict, earlier said with Russia's absence the Burgenstock event is “unlikely to deliver much of consequence”.
“Nonetheless, the Swiss summit is a chance for Ukraine and its allies to underline what the UN General Assembly recognised in 2022 and repeated in its February 2023 resolution on a just peace in Ukraine: Russia’s all-out aggression is a blatant violation of international law,” it said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the gathering an important step.
"Many questions of peace and security will be discussed, but not the very biggest. That was always the plan," he said, speaking to Welt TV.
"This is a small plant that needs to be watered, but of course also with the perspective that more can then come out of it."
Joe Biden has sent US Vice President Kamala Harris to represent him, while the UAE will be represented by Anwar Gargash and Saudi Arabia by Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
China had said it would consider taking part, but ultimately declined because Russia would not be there.
“Even if they are not here today at the first summit, we have succeeded in bringing to the world that joint efforts can stop war and establish peace,” Mr Zelenskyy said.
Russian troops now control nearly a quarter of Ukrainian land in the east and south, and have made some territorial gains in recent months.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How they line up for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
3 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
4 Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5 Kevin Magnussen, Haas
6 Romain Grosjean, Haas
7 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
*8 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
9 Carlos Sainz, Renault
10 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren
12 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
13 Sergio Perez, Force India
14 Lance Stroll, Williams
15 Esteban Ocon, Force India
16 Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso
17 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
18 Charles Leclerc, Sauber
19 Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
20 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
* Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth but had a three-place grid penalty for speeding in red flag conditions during practice
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Results
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m; Winner: Ghaiyyath, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Cliffs Of Capri, Tadhg O’Shea, Jamie Osborne.
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Al Montaqem, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m | Winner: Daber W’Rsan, Connor Beasley, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m | Winner: Bainoona, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: AF Makerah, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 | Winner: AF Motaghatres, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,600m | Winner: Tafakhor, Ronan Whelan, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
