Switzerland will organize a very high-level conference dedicated to peace in Ukraine, which will take place on June 15 and 16 in the mountain town of Bürgenstock at the request of the Ukrainian Government to accelerate the calling of this event, the Swiss government announced this Wednesday.
In their weekly meeting this Wednesday, the members of the federal Executive concluded that the conditions are met to launch a peace process, despite the fact that Russia's participation in the meeting is unlikely.
Moscow “has no plans to come,” declared Ignazio Cassis at a press conference, stating that “a peace process cannot be carried out without Russia, even if it is not present during the first meeting”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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The minister, however, made it clear that “a peace process cannot be carried out without Russia” or “without the participation of all parties to the conflict.”
This conference will be a platform for dialogue to identify possible ways to achieve a global, just and lasting peace, in accordance with the founding principles of the UN and international law, according to Swiss authorities.
“It is a first step in a process for lasting peace,” said Swiss President Viola Amherd at a press conference in Bern. “We are not going to sign a peace plan at this conference,” she said, but added that there will be another conference later. “We look forward to starting this process,” she said.
It is a first step in a process for lasting peace.
Countries and entities that may have influence on the parties to the conflict will be invited to the meeting, with the intention to lay the foundations for a common and concrete plan that makes it possible to incorporate Russia into the peace process.
In the previous months, Switzerland held talks to explore international interest in such a meeting, with positive results.
The Swiss Government indicated that although many things can happen between now and June, it assumes its responsibility to contribute to peace in view of Switzerland's long diplomatic tradition.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, at a press conference.
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The president of the United States, Joe Biden, would participate in the meeting, which would be attended by representatives from nearly a hundred countries.according to several local media outlets.
Burgenstock is located 874 meters high, on a promontory that rises above Lake Lucerne, a town with difficult access and where a luxurious hotel complex operates, the only place that has the necessary infrastructure for a meeting of this importance.
In addition, its location allows the area to be isolated with relative ease to guarantee the safety of the participants.
The conference will take place in the Bürgenstock hotel complex. This luxury hotel enjoys an idyllic location on a hillside, more than 450 meters above Lake Lucerne.
The war that Russia started in February 2022 in Ukraine has caused the Russian government to silence anti-war voices.
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Switzerland has examined, through direct contacts with numerous States, the possibilities and paths that could lead to a peace processthe government said in a statement on Wednesday.
Switzerland held discussions with members of the G7, the European Union, representatives of the South, such as China, South Africa, Brazil, among others.
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