Russia was not invited to the peace summit in Switzerland because it continues its aggressive war. Only Ukraine will decide when it is time to invite Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says.
"We will meet with states from all over the world at the first peace summit for Ukraine in Switzerland. There will be a dialog on the principles of a just and lasting peace,” he says.
Scholz emphasizes that these are not negotiations on ending the war, because for this Putin must make it clear that he is ready to end his brutal military campaign and withdraw his troops.
"However, it may be possible to show a way to start a process in which Russia will one day sit at the table. When the time comes for this, only Ukraine will decide. But as long as Putin ruthlessly pursues his goals in this war, our message will be that we will not weaken our support for Ukraine, we continue to stand firmly on the side of Ukrainians,” the German Chancellor adds.
Summit in Switzerland
According to Switzerland, 90 states and organizations have registered to participate in the summit, which will take place at a resort near the city of Lucerne on June 15-16, about half of them from South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Russia was not invited, but the Swiss government said the talks were aimed at jointly defining a roadmap for how to involve it and Ukraine in the future peace process.
Russia was not invited, but the Swiss government said the talks were aimed at jointly defining a roadmap for how to involve it and Ukraine in the future peace process.
Switzerland agreed to host the summit at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and tried to enlist his support among countries that have better relations with Moscow than the leading Western powers.
The absence of Russia prompted Moscow's influential allies, such as China, to say that peace talks are pointless if both Russia and Ukraine do not participate. This has dampened expectations of any breakthrough in Switzerland.