Vladimir ROSTOTSKY, Russian political scientist
With the initiation of the Peace Summit, Ukraine took a significant step in intensifying contacts with the countries of the Global South, which are beginning to play an increasingly prominent role in the modern world order.
It should be noted that under President Zelensky, Ukraine actually entered into a battle with Moscow in the struggle for the sympathies of the countries of Africa and Latin America, breaking the post-Soviet trend of focusing exclusively on Europe.
The Kremlin has traditionally viewed these regions as zones of its interests, supporting loyalist regimes, promoting propaganda on a gigantic scale and controlling rich mineral reserves with the help of its mercenaries, for example PMC Wagner.
Ukraine, on the other hand, preferred the multi-vector path of “soft power”, providing support for its initiatives through the supply of vital food, mainly grain, to the same African countries.
In the context of Moscow's de facto blockade of the “grain deal” strong Kiev consistently fulfills its duties, maintaining the stability of the global food traffic.
The presence at the peace summit of representatives of the countries of the “global south” and their desire to end the bloody war in Ukraine indicates significant geopolitical changes on the world stage. Ukraine, in fact one of the first countries in Eastern and Central Europe, demonstrated an understanding of the importance of the countries of the “Global South” in the new international realities and actively opposes the ambitions of the Moscow imperialists to rule alone and influence in these regions.
Ukraine has clearly demonstrated a departure from the imperial imperative regarding the countries of the “Global South” by initiating formats that are acceptable, among other things, to solve the long-standing problems of these countries.
The issue of ending local wars is gaining global importance.
For a number of countries in the “Global South”, embroiled in long-term local regional armed conflicts, the format of the Peace Summit may prove to be an effective model for solving these problems.
Neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism must give way to a new vision for the resolution of armed conflicts. In the context of the degradation of such international structures as the UN, the format of collective discussion of strategies for achieving peace in the spirit of the Swiss summit may prove fruitful.