Switzerland expects around 90 countries, organisations at Ukraine peace summit

Around 90 countries and organisations have registered to take part in the Ukraine Peace Summit hosted by Switzerland next weekend, the Swiss government confirmed on Monday (10 June).

Switzerland is hosting the conference at the request of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and since January, has tried to rally support also with countries of the Global South that have better ties with Russia rather than the West.

A Swiss government statement said the peace conference aims to discuss ways to achieve a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on international law and the UN charter.”

The gathering will aim to “jointly define a roadmap” on involving both it and Ukraine in a future peace process.

Russia, which has not been invited to participate, has dismissed the summit as a ‘Western club meeting’.

Bern has reasoned its decision with the lack of interest from Russia to participate, though Swiss government officials stress that in the long-term, Moscow must be part of any future peace process.

The aim “is to inspire a future peace process and to develop practical elements as well as steps towards such a process”, the Swiss foreign ministry said.

“All states present at the summit should contribute their ideas and visions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” it added.

Zelenskyy has demanded Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory.

However, Russia’s absence from the gathering will likely encourage its like-minded allies to skip the summit, which has muted expectations for the talks.

China, most notably, has said it does not see value in holding the gathering unless both Russia and Ukraine take part.

Next week’s summit will come just after a G7 summit in Italy, for which the host country has compiled an unusually long guest list reflecting Rome’s desire to broaden the horizons of the format.

Diplomats had already released a list of many of those expected at the gathering, including the leaders of India, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, Algeria, Kenya and Mauritania. Add to that Saudi Arabia and Jordan, who confirmed their attendance this week.

Zelenskyy is also expected to attend – and to lobby for the Ukraine Peace Summit later that week in Switzerland.

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