An increasing number of countries is joining talks meant to prepare for peace in Ukraine in a "good sign" that the world understands the severity of the situation in the country, Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said at a conference in Davos.
In total, 83 delegations participated Sunday in a gathering of national security advisers and political advisers in the Swiss mountain resort deliberating on a Ukrainian formula eyeing an eventual end to the war. That's up from 65 delegations in a similar meeting in Malta last October.
"We want our formula to become global," Yermak said at the meeting. "We want the whole world to use our experience, to learn from our lessons and to utilize our tools and readymade solutions. So that any other aggression in any other part of the world could be prevented."
Speaking in a video conference before flying to Davos Monday to attend the meetings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also welcomed the increased number of attendants.
"Now more than 80 states and international organizations are represented," Zelensky said. "And not only our usual partners in Europe and North America, but also the states of Latin America, Africa, Asia, Oceania. With their participation, they confirm that the rules-based world order must be restored for everyone on earth without exception."
However, the Davos gathering comes as fighting in Gaza, the upcoming election in the United States, internal divisions among donors in the European Union and other issues dampen allies' willingness to keep providing military and civilian aid for the war and the country's eventual reconstruction.
And China, a country that would be key in persuading Russia to talk peace, was absent from Sunday's meeting despite its large delegation at the Davos conference.
