A global security officials in Davos today, Ukraine advanced its peace plan to end the war with Russia that has lasted almost two years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who will speak at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos later this week, did not attend the opening session this morning, which had 81 attendees from various countries and international bodies.

Zelenskiy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak represented him at the talks on Sunday, which also saw the presence of the US special envoy for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, and James O’Brien, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

As the US election year raises doubts about the continued US backing for the war in Ukraine, both National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are expected to speak at the WEF, which officially begins on Monday night.

The Ukraine peace talks, hosted by Switzerland, aimed to establish principles “for a durable and fair peace in Ukraine” at the level of national security advisers, Switzerland said in a statement last week. The principles, it said, should lay the foundation for the next steps of the peace process.

The Global South’s role in Ukraine’s peace plan talks has gained attention in Davos. Many of the non-aligned countries from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia that have mostly remained neutral over Ukraine will be present in the Swiss mountain town this week.

Nigeria’s national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu was seen at the NSA meeting. Yermak said that there were attendees from 18 Asian countries, 12 African countries and 6 South American countries.

Yermak said on his Telegram account that “Countries from the Global South are more and more engaged in our work.”

Ukraine, with solid support from its allies, has always said it will not stop until it has recovered every piece of land that Russia has seized.

However, it is not clear if countries in the Global South share that view as a peace plan.