High-Level Meeting in Switzerland to Kickstart Peace Process in Ukraine
After the G7 summit in Italy, representatives from 92 countries will gather in Switzerland on Saturday to discuss the initial steps of a peace process in Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel directly from southern Italy's Apulia, Vice President Kamala Harris will come from the USA, and President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend for Ukraine. The delegations will debate about the grain exports from Ukraine, the security of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant occupied by Russia, a rejection of the use of nuclear weapons, and humanitarian issues such as a prisoner exchange.
The two-day conference initiated by Ukraine will involve 57 countries at the level of heads of state and government, making it one of the largest summits of the year. Although there is limited hope for concrete results, the summit is considered an important sign of international solidarity with Ukraine. It is also about garnering broad international support for the Ukrainian peace plan, which includes a complete withdrawal of Russia from Ukrainian territory.
The Swiss hosts of the meeting also hope that a follow-up conference will be decided upon later this year and that Moscow will be involved. President Vladimir Putin of Russia was not invited this time. Russia's main ally China also declined the invitation. Other influential friends of Russia such as India and South Africa are present but not even at the ministerial level, while Brazil is participating as an observer.
Scholz had advocated for the heads of state and government of Russia's key allies to be at the table, but without success. Zelensky visited Saudi Arabia shortly before the summit, sparking rumors about a possible attendance by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but the guest list published by the Swiss hosts did not include him.
Scholz tempered expectations for the conference, emphasizing the focus on laying the groundwork for a follow-up conference and stressing the importance of involving Russia. The Russian war of aggression was the central topic at the G7 summit in Italy, where Putin demanded territorial concessions from Ukraine, a demand dismissed as absurd and manipulative by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
The EU states agreed in principle to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, seen as an important signal by the Ukrainian people to continue the defense battle against Russia. The timeline for EU accession remains uncertain, with Turkey, for instance, still a candidate since 1999 and facing challenges related to the rule of law.
Overall, the high-level meeting in Switzerland represents a pivotal moment in the pursuit of peace in Ukraine, signaling international solidarity and support for Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of Russian aggression.
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