The Swiss-proposed peace conference on the conflict in Ukraine will be held on June 15-16, it was announced in Bern on Thursday. They added that more than 160 delegations from around the world have been invited to participate, but Russian diplomats are not among them.
The Swiss government announced in February that it was planning a large-scale peace conference “for the summer”, but did not give a specific date at the time. In his latest statement, Bern said Moscow had not been invited to participate “at this stage”.
Moscow previously called the planned conference “pointless” and said it would not participate even if invited. Ukraine has indicated that Russia would only be invited if it agreed to a series of preconditions that Moscow called “absurd”.
According to the Swiss government, the goal of the “Peace in Ukraine” summit is to develop a common vision on the way to a “just and lasting peace.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Swiss President Viola Amherd wrote that “global cooperation is key to building a peaceful future.”
“Promote UN Charter-based dialogue on the #PathToPeace” – he wrote, adding that the event will be held in the Burgenstock resort near Lucerne.
The delegations invited to the summit include members of the G7, G20, BRICS, the EU, international organizations, and two religious representatives, Bern said.
The purpose of the discussions is also to develop a schedule for Russia’s participation says the announcement.
Honored to invite global leaders to the first Summit on Peace in #Ukraine.
🗓️ 15-16 June
📍 Bürgenstock 🇨🇭
ℹ️ https://t.co/csRDnzLs1iLet’s advance dialogue based on the UN Charter towards a #PathToPeace.
Global collaboration is key to shape a peaceful #future. #UAPeaceSummit pic.twitter.com/GdD8dCPdsb
— Viola Amherd (@Violapamherd) May 2, 2024
Moscow did not rule out cooperation with Kiev, but indicated that it did not intend to participate in the Swiss conference.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said last month that the forum was envisioned to be dedicated to promoting the “Zelensky peace formula,” which Moscow has described as unrealistic.
Ukraine insists that peace can only be negotiated on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s terms, which include the withdrawal of Russian forces from territory “illegally occupied” by Kiev.
Moscow rejected the demands as unsuccessful and stressed it would not hand over Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions that joined Russia after referendums. Negotiations between Moscow and Kiev effectively broke down in the spring of 2022 as the West put pressure on the Kiev regime.
Russian President Vladimir Putin later said Ukrainian negotiators had agreed to some of Moscow’s terms, then abruptly backed out of the deal. Kyiv’s chief negotiator, David Arahamija, revealed in November 2023 that his team’s main goal was to “buy time” for the Ukrainian military.
The Kremlin said it remained open to talks, but only if Kiev recognized the “reality on the ground”.
