Peace summit on Ukraine in Switzerland: Participation of Russia and China

Content

• The date is set. When and where the peace formula summit will take place
• What is planned to be discussed and the expectations from the summit
• Russia will not be there, and China is under question. What countries will attend the conference

The date is set. When and where the peace formula summit will take place

The conference will take place from June 15 to 16 at the Bürgenstock resort in the Nidwalden canton near Lucerne.

Switzerland's agreement to host the conference was announced in January, and today the Swiss government confirmed the date.

A series of talks have been held with the European Union, the G7 member states, and countries such as India and China to secure their support.

"There is currently sufficient international support for a high-level conference to launch the peace process," said the statement from the Swiss Federal Council.

What is planned to be discussed and the expectations from the summit

The summit in Switzerland will be dedicated to discussing the 'peace formula' proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to the Swiss government, the primary objective of the conference is to develop a common understanding between the participating states "until a comprehensive, fair, and enduring peace is achieved".

It is noted that the conference aims to create a forum for high-level dialogue on ways to achieve peace for Ukraine in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

The summit will focus on creating frameworks conducive to long-term peace in Ukraine, as well as a concrete roadmap for Russia’s participation in the peace process.

While discussing preparations for the conference with his Swiss counterpart Viola Amherd, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the summit would continue the previous work of both countries on the implementation of the peace formula following four meetings of national security advisers held in Copenhagen, Jeddah, Malta, and Davos.

"We are preparing the summit, preparing its concrete results - a clear position of the world on the fair end of this war," Zelenskyy emphasized.

Regarding expectations from the summit, Swiss President Viola Amherd said that now there are no guarantees of the success of the conference and the conclusion of a peace agreement following its results.

Amherd said that the alternative would be to do nothing and that it would be irresponsible for the stability of Europe as well as for Switzerland.

She also said that no peace plan would be signed at the conference in June. Viola Amherd thinks that there will be a second conference, but she hopes to start the process with this one.

Russia will not be there, and China is under question. What countries will attend the conference

The Global Summit in Switzerland can be attended by leaders from 100 countries, but there is no specific list of participants.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expected 80 to 100 countries to attend.

"This is the number of countries that I believe will be able to at least try to force Russia to a fair peace," he said.

US President Joe Biden may attend the conference. Although the American president has not yet confirmed his participation, the chances of his arrival in Switzerland have increased. He is to attend the G7 summit in Italy just before the planned conference on Ukraine.

At the same time, the Swiss government emphasizes the importance of the participation of the BRICS countries, the Arab world, and the Global South to create the broadest possible alliance. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis visited the Philippines, South Korea, India, and China to discuss peace initiatives on Ukraine and to induce the countries to participate in the conference.

Back in February, Ukraine invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the conference.

Bloomberg reports that Ukraine's allies also see China's presence as important to the success of the meeting, considering the influence they believe Beijing has over Moscow during more than two years of war.

However, China's participation in the Global Summit remains under question. It is only known that in March, China's ambassador to Switzerland stated that Beijing was considering the possibility of participation.

At the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on April 9, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Beijing supported holding an international peace conference "recognized by both Russia and Ukraine" with "equal participation of all parties and where all peace plans are discussed fairly".

The aggressor country will not attend the peace summit in Switzerland. Earlier, the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, said that Russia might be invited to the conference, but only for the second summit.

At the same time, the Russian Federation called the idea of a peace summit on Ukraine senseless and doomed to failure if it did not take into account Russia's interests.

The Russian party considers the meeting in Switzerland as a ploy used by the West to attract international support for Ukraine among the Global South countries.

In the fall of 2022 at the G20 summit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a 'peace formula' that should stop Russian aggression and guarantee Ukraine's security. It consists of guarantees of radiation, nuclear, food, and energy security, as well as the withdrawal of Russian troops from the occupied territories.

In January 2024, Ukraine and Switzerland started preparations for the Global Summit of leaders to discuss the proposed 'peace formula'.