Global peace summit kicks off in Switzerland amid Russia's concerns
Around 160 countries have been invited to the "peace summit" on Ukraine in Switzerland, which will take place on June 15-16. About 90 have confirmed their presence. Of course, Russia, which, according to media reports, is concerned about this event, is not included.
8:14 AM EDT, June 14, 2024
Ukraine will organize a peace summit on June 15-16 in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock near Lucerne.
According to the Ukrainian Radio Liberty service, around 90 countries and organizations will participate in the meeting. Meanwhile, China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and a few other countries have declined to participate, and Russia has not been invited.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, participants will discuss, among other things, the exchange of prisoners of war in the "all for all" formula and nuclear and food security issues.
According to the independent portal Meduza, the Kremlin is concerned about the Swiss summit. Russians wonder if Ukraine's initiative means its readiness to conduct peace negotiations with the Russian Federation.
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The conference will most likely not have a direct impact on the course of the war. This should not be seen as a sign foreshadowing the end of the war but as a continuation of efforts to build a coalition - expanding the circle of countries sympathizing with and supporting Ukraine beyond the West. The goal of the conference is to convince countries of the so-called "Global South" to adopt a pro-Ukrainian stance at the diplomatic level, emphasizes political expert Samuel Charap.
Ukraine does not want negotiations with Russia
As the expert emphasizes, the conference in Switzerland does not mean that Ukraine is ready for negotiations with Russia. It wants the international community to agree upon the demands for a peaceful resolution that will be presented to Russia first.
We know what peace negotiations look like: when the warring parties sit at the same table. We saw this in Belarus and Turkey at the beginning of the war. What will happen in Switzerland is something different, adds Charap.
The Swiss government announced that it was ready to send an invitation, but the Kremlin was not interested in it. Zelensky said they declined Russia's participation for fear that the Russian side would "block everything and disrupt everything".
To my surprise, the Russian leadership is worried about this event. If I were in their place, I would probably ignore it, emphasizes the expert.
