At Swiss Peace Summit, Ukraine prez Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 'history being made'

OBBURGEN(SWITZERLAND): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday predicted "history being made" at the Swiss-hosted conference that aims to plot the first steps toward peace in Ukraine even though experts and critics don't expect any major breakthroughs because Russia isn't attending.

The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia joined dozens of Western heads of state, other senior government leaders and high-level envoys at the meeting, in the hopes that Russia could join in one day.

In a brief statement to reporters alongside Swiss President Viola Amherd at the outset of the summit, Zelenskyy 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."

Swiss officials hosting the conference said over 50 heads of state would attend the event at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne. Some 100 delegations, including European bodies and the United Nations, were also expected.

As US Vice President Kamala Harris arrived, shuttle buses rumbled up a mountain road that snaked up to the site, with police along the route checking journalists' IDs and helicopters overhead ferrying in VIPs.

Over $1.5 billion US aid
Harris pledged America's unwavering support for Ukraine and announced more than $1.5 billion in aid for the country's energy sector and its humanitarian situation.

"This war remains an utter failure for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," she said during a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy. "It is in our interest to uphold international norms," she added.

The $1.5 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirecting of $324 million in previously announced funds toward emergency energy infrastructure repair and other needs in Ukraine, the Vice President's office said.

Meanwhile, Turkey and Saudi Arabia sent their foreign ministers to the meeting, while key developing countries such as Brazil - only an observer at the event - India and South Africa sent lower-level officials. China, which backs Russia, was among the nations that sat out the event.