What is the value of peace talks that aren’t actually talks between the warring sides? President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was due to open a peace conference in Switzerland on Saturday that is intended to shore up support for his country’s negotiating positions with backing from as many nations as possible. Yet even as the two-day gathering has emerged as the most widely embraced diplomatic effort to date to end the war, for now, the effort excludes Russia. The plan has drawn criticism from some countries, like China and Brazil, that say Russia and Ukraine need to negotiate directly for any chance to end the fighting. Mr. Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan involves Russia’s withdrawing in full from Ukrainian territory, paying reparations and facing justice over any war crimes.

---

Persons: aren’t, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Celso Amorim, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, “, ” Mr, Zelensky, Zelensky’s Locations: Ukraine, Switzerland, Russia, Lucerne, China, Brazil