Russia “does not plan to come” to a major conference “on peace in Ukraine” organized in mid-June in Switzerland

The conference organized by Switzerland on “peace in Ukraine” will be held on June 15 and 16 in Switzerland, without the participation of Russia. “This is the first step towards a process of lasting peace,” said Swiss President Viola Amherd during a press conference in Bern, clarifying that the peace plan will not “be signed at this conference (…) We hope to start this process.” At the same time, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said that the Russians “did not plan to come.”

Russian diplomacy quickly criticized the event. “Behind all this are American Democrats who want photographs and videos of such an event to indicate that their project Ukraine remains relevant,” Russian diplomatic spokesman Maria Zakharova told the state news agency TASS.

She denounced pre-election motives in the midst of the American presidential campaign. The Republican camp of Donald Trump, the candidate running against outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden, has for months been blocking military aid that Kyiv desperately needs. “Elections are everything, Ukraine is nothing,” insisted Maria Zakharova, accusing democratic leaders supporting Kyiv against Moscow of “putting thousands of Ukrainians at risk.”

“The peace process cannot take place without Russia”

Ignazio Cassis insisted that “the peace process cannot be concluded without Russia, even if it is not present during the first meeting” because “peace cannot be concluded without the participation of all parties to the conflict.” This first conference will involve, among other things, “agreeing on how best we can invite Russia” to the next one, he said.

About 120 countries will be invited, and the United States has confirmed its participation, added Ignazio Cassis. According to Swiss media, American President Joe Biden is expected to attend the event. The conference will take place near Lucerne, in the Bürgenstock hotel complex. This luxury hotel enjoys an idyllic hillside location, over 450 meters above Lake Lucerne.

In January, Swiss President Viola Amherd received her Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky for talks in Bern. She then assured him of her support for organizing a peace conference in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Switzerland, through direct contacts with numerous states, explored possibilities and paths that could lead to a peace process. In particular, Switzerland held negotiations with members of the G7, the EU, as well as with representatives of countries such as China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia.

“The conditions for holding a conference to stimulate the peace process have been sufficiently fulfilled. As a first step, it will be about developing a common understanding among the participating states regarding the path forward to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” the Swiss government explained.