Ukrainian Foreign Minister explains withdrawal of some countries' signatures under Peace Summit decision

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has commented on the situation concerning the disappearance of some countries' signatures from the communiqué of the Peace Summit held last weekend in Switzerland.

Source: Kuleba on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Details: Kuleba noted that his Swiss colleagues included some countries in the original list of signatories that had not yet confirmed that they would sign it.

"And so when they [these countries] approached us and said: ‘Hold on, we are still considering this document,’ because it was still being edited until the last moment at the Summit, they were removed from the list," Kuleba explained.

The Ukrainian minister also noted that Russian propaganda was the first to start spreading the information about countries withdrawing their signatures from the communiqué.

At the same time, Kuleba did not specify which countries were still considering signing the communiqué, noting that it would be incorrect for him to say so.

"There are several countries from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and several countries from Oceania and Asia [that could potentially sign the Summit's decision]," Kuleba said.

Background: 

• Initially, the final document was supported by 80 countries and four organisations, but later three countries withdrew their signatures; however, the state of Antigua and Barbuda, the Organisation of American States and the Ecumenical Patriarchate have signed the communiqué.
• The Office of the President of Ukraine said that the outcome document of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland might be supported by additional countries that had not yet signed it. 
• The day before, Zambia signed the Peace Summit communiqué. 

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