On Thursday, Switzerland officially invited more than 160 delegates to the Ukraine conference. It will be held on June 15 and 16 at a luxury hotel in Burgenstock Lake Lucerne and is organized at the request of Ukraine. The meeting will be held at the level of heads of state and government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bern said.
Background: Zelensky: Moscow Wants to Block Peace Conference in Switzerland
Russia was not invited
Its purpose is to create a common understanding of a possible path to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. This should be the basis for a peace process. “Russia is not invited at this time,” the statement said.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry pointed out that Moscow had on several occasions publicly refused to participate. The conference should initiate a peace process. “Switzerland is determined that Russia should be involved in this process. A peace process without Russia is unthinkable.
The basis for the discussions is the peace formula presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations in the fall of 2022. Kiev demands that aggression be punished, lives protected, security and territorial integrity restored and security guaranteed.
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Background: Russia has refused to participate in the Swiss Peace Conference
Nations should be united
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the US magazine Foreign Policy that the conference was not intended to engage Russia, but to bring together countries with a common understanding of steps towards a solution.
Then there will be contact with Russia and Moscow may engage in negotiations. Of course the war cannot be ended without the participation of both sides, Kuleba said.
A decision on China's participation is still pending
“Don't we understand what a milestone this peace conference will be?” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow. “How can we talk about a serious conference with serious results without the participation of Russia?”
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The Russian position is important because China wants a peace conference acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine. Therefore, China's participation is obvious. The purpose of the meeting in Switzerland is precisely to raise understanding of the Ukrainian position among countries that are friendly or neutral to Russia, such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa. dpa/da
Background: Pressure on Russia? China has made no promises to Shoals
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