- Russia not invited after slamming event, but officials suggest Moscow can join process down the line
Ninety states and organizations have so far registered to take part in a summit aiming to pave the way for peace in Ukraine that Switzerland will host from June 15-16, the Swiss government said on Monday.
Russia has not been invited to the summit due to be held in central Switzerland, but, according to Reuters, the government said in a statement that the gathering will aim to “jointly define a roadmap” on how to involve both it and Ukraine in a future peace process.
Switzerland in January agreed to host the summit at the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and has tried to drum up support for it among countries that have better relations with Moscow than leading Western powers.
Russia has dismissed the summit as a waste of time. It was not invited to participate, Switzerland says, because it signaled it had no interest in attending.
However, Russia will not be present at the conference, which Switzerland is hosting at Kyiv’s request. Bern has previously said that Russia was not invited as it had signalled it was not interested in participating.
Moscow has maintained that Switzerland is no longer a neutral country due to its mirroring of sanctions imposed by the European Union.
Switzerland also stresses though, that Russia must be part of the peace process.
Its absence has encouraged powerful allies of Moscow such as China to say there is no point in peace talks unless both Russia and Ukraine take part. That has muted expectations for any kind of major breakthrough at the talks being held in Switzerland.
The summit is due to discuss areas of broad international concern, such as the need for nuclear and food security, freedom of navigation as well as humanitarian issues, such as prisoners of war, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said.
However, the Swiss government said in a statement that the gathering will aim to “jointly define a roadmap” on how to involve both Russia and Ukraine in a future peace process.
Amherd said that “a handful” of the confirmed participants are from organisations like the United Nations, with the rest representing countries, about half of which are sending a head of state or government.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are set to appear. US President Joe Biden will not but the White House will instead send Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Amherd denied that Switzerland was “disappointed” that fewer than 100 countries would attend after about 160 invitations were sent.
The invitation list sought to drum up support among countries that have better relations with Moscow than leading Western powers.
Key developing countries like Turkey and South Africa have not indicated whether they will attend. India, the Swiss said, will take part but it remains unclear at what level. The final list of participants is expected by Friday.
@Written with agency reports