National security advisors from about 65 countries participated in a meeting organized by Ukraine on Saturday to discuss its peace proposal aimed at ending the war with Russia. This marks the third meeting of its kind this year, following smaller gatherings in Jeddah and Copenhagen, but Russia is not participating. The 10-point peace plan proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls for the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the protection of food and energy supplies, nuclear safety, and the release of all prisoners.
The meeting is taking place in a banquet hall at a hotel in Malta behind closed doors, but officials hope it will lead to an agreement to hold a global peace summit later this year. The talks will help assess Ukraine and the West's ability to gather ongoing and broader support, especially in the Global South, as the conflict in Israel dominates headlines, distracting attention from Kyiv.
Moscow criticized Malta last week for hosting the meeting, labeling it an anti-Russian event that would have counterproductive results. Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg stated that his country would continue to show support for efforts to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity. He told participants, "Although we are a neutral country, we cannot but condemn the injustices, atrocities, and abuse of power in the region. We remain at the forefront of denouncing this aggression."
An official list of participants has not been released, but officials indicated that representatives from countries in Europe, South America, Arab, African, and Asian nations are included.
