Switzerland intends to hold a high-level peace conference on Ukraine in mid-June, which will be attended by 80 to 100 countries, mainly from the so-called Global South. This was reported by Bloomberg citing people familiar with the matter, reports UNN.
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The conference could take place June 16-17, according to the publication, although it is unclear how many leaders will attend, the people said, asking not to be named while discussing confidential details. A key point of disagreement is whether China will participate, they added, which will be crucial for Switzerland to make the initiative credible.
Ukraine's allies see China's presence as important to the success of the meeting, given the influence they say Beijing is exerting on Muscovy more than two years after the war began.
A spokesman for the Swiss Foreign Ministry said that the date and venue of the conference had not yet been determined.
"Beyond the perspectives of Ukraine, russia and Europe, it's also important to listen to the Global South, which will play a key role in russia's eventual inclusion," a Bloomberg spokesman said Monday. "That's why we are in close contact with China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
So far, Beijing has only attended one meeting of national security advisers aimed at laying the groundwork for the summit. The U.S. has recently warned allies that China is increasing its support for the Kremlin, Bloomberg previously reported.
Several countries are pushing for russia to attend the meeting, but Kiev wants broad agreement on key principles that would form the basis of any future settlement before engaging with moscow.
Ukraine's so-called peace formula calls for respecting the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, withdrawing Russian troops, and ensuring nuclear and food security.
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Switzerland, which has historically remained neutral in European conflicts, is seeking to bring countries to the negotiating table to help end the war, although it has so far failed to do so.
russia is unlikely to participate in the first round of talks, Defense Minister Viola Amherd said in February. Switzerland wanted a "very broad alliance consisting of the BRICS states, the Arab world and the Global South," she added.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who said peace would only come "on the battlefield," still praised the Kiev-sponsored forum, although he said there was "absolutely no" dialog with Russia on ending the war.
The high-level conference will follow four meetings of national security advisers that Ukraine has organized to build support for its formula. The last of these meetings was held in Davos earlier this year.
According to the people, if the summit is held, it is likely to be held in the Swiss city of Lucerne. An official statement from the Swiss cabinet could come as early as April 10, one of the sources said.