Switzerland has announced that representatives from ninety states will attend the Ukraine Peace Summit aimed at charting a course for sustainable peace in Ukraine. The conference, scheduled for June 15-16, will not include Russia, as Moscow has expressed disinterest in participating.
Swiss President Viola Amherd, speaking in Bern, emphasized the event’s goal of establishing a roadmap towards ending the conflict that began nearly 28 months ago with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hosted at Kyiv’s request, the conference will proceed without Russian representation. Switzerland has previously stated that Russia was not invited, citing the country’s lack of interest in engagement.
Moscow has questioned Switzerland’s neutrality, pointing to its alignment with European Union sanctions. Despite this, the Swiss government aims to define a collaborative path involving both Russia and Ukraine in future peace negotiations.
According to Amherd, the conference will see participation from a mix of state representatives and organizations such as the United Nations. About half of the attending countries will be represented by their head of state or government. Confirmed high-profile attendees include French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. While US President Joe Biden will not be present, the US delegation will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Switzerland has denied any disappointment over the attendance, noting that out of 160 invitations sent, over ninety states have confirmed participation. The invite list was designed to include countries with varying relationships with Moscow, seeking broad international support. The final roster of participants will be confirmed by Friday, with key developing nations like Turkey and South Africa yet to declare their attendance. India has confirmed its participation, though the level of its representation remains unspecified.