Switzerland has extended an invitation to India to join the upcoming Peace in Ukraine Summit, scheduled for the following month. Acting as a historically neutral mediator, Switzerland seeks to broker an end to the ongoing two-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Set to occur on June 15 and 16 at the Burgenstock resort, the summit aims to foster a shared vision for achieving a fair and enduring peace in Ukraine, according to Swiss officials. The gathering will follow the G7 summit held in Italy.
While India has been extended an invitation and is expected to participate, the extent of its influence remains uncertain. It is unclear whether the Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, or Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend. Of critical importance, the summit coincides closely with the outcomes of the Indian Lok Sabha election on June 4, and depending on these results, ministry formation will be imminent. India is anticipated to provide a response to the invitation in the near future.
The Russians have not been invited to the summit so far because they’ve repeatedly declined to participate, according to Swiss officials. However, Switzerland believes that Russia must be part of the discussions, and a summit without their involvement is unthinkable. On the other hand, it’s expected that the G7 countries, along with most, if not all, European Union nations, will attend. In total, Switzerland has sent out 160 invitations. It’s highly likely that Ukraine will participate, although it’s uncertain if President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be present.
The summit aims to achieve three main goals. Firstly, it provides a platform for discussing ways to achieve a fair and lasting peace for Ukraine, based on international laws and the principles of the United Nations. Secondly, it aims to create a common understanding of how to reach this goal and define a roadmap for involving both parties in future peace talks. The war, which has been ongoing for over two years, has resulted in significant loss of life and has had a negative impact on the global economy, especially in countries like India. High prices of essential goods like food, fuel, and fertilizers have affected many poorer nations.