We Have A Great Country & Great History, That’s Why Talking About Recounstruction: Yermak, HOO, Ukraine

The outcomes of the 4th National Security Advisors (NSA) meeting were presented by top officials from Ukraine, along with Switzerland's foreign minister. The meeting was facilitated by the World Economic Forum and hosted by Switzerland. During the meeting, experts discussed the steps needed to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. 

The meeting was attended by national security advisors from 83 countries and international organisations. The discussions centred around several parts of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 10-point plan. The plan calls for an end to hostilities with Russia. The topics discussed included the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, food and energy security, nuclear safety, environmental protection and justice for crimes committed.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, noted the substantial number of countries involved in the peace dialogue and said Ukraine will be holding summits with African and Latin American countries in the near future. He said that the re-establishment of an independent and peaceful Ukraine with its internationally recognized borders is important not just for the sake of upholding principles and rules.

“It’s about our fruitful cooperation in the future. We have a great country. We have a great history. And that’s why today we are talking about reconstruction, [and] talking about future cooperation. This is the Ukrainian dream – which, of course, needs to start with our victory,” Yermek added.

Yuliia Svyrydenko, first Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, highlighted that food insecurity due to the war has impacted those who can least afford it. “After the invasion, the price [of wheat] jumped to record levels, by over USD 400 per ton. We need to increase the capacity of food aid to the most vulnerable consumers,” she added.

The Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, citing his country’s long tradition of promoting peace said, “After two years of war, peace is something we urgently need. The principles should form the basis for the next stages of the peace process. Every minute we wait, hundreds of civilians are killed or injured. We must put an end to this war.”

Cassis stressed that the purpose of the NSA discussions is to prepare and be ready to start a peace process with Russia when the time comes. “A peace plan must move forward even if a dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow cannot yet take place. We must prepare a broad alliance of nations to create international pressure [for a solution]. We must be ready when conditions allow,” he said.

During the 4th NSA meeting, Switzerland acted as a mediator and a host. Additionally, Switzerland has pledged to provide millions of Swiss francs in humanitarian aid to Ukraine until 2026. The Forum played a key role in organising the meeting as part of its long-standing tradition of offering a platform for diplomacy and using business to promote peace-building and resilience efforts.