By AFP and Kontur | 2024-06-11

GENEVA -- Switzerland will stage a conference on Ukraine this coming weekend, with world leaders set to discuss how to reach an eventual peace process -- although Russia is not taking part.

The gathering comes immediately after the G7 summit in southern Italy, running June 13 to 15, during which the wealthy democracies will also discuss Ukraine in the presence of its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The G7 will look at ways to use frozen Russian assets to provide fresh aid to Ukraine, which Russia invaded in force in February 2022.

Zelenskyy will then head to Switzerland, to be joined by G7 and other leaders for the summit.

What is billed as the first "Summit on Peace in Ukraine" will take place at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne.

French President Emmanuel Macron, US Vice President Kamala Harris, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are among those so far confirmed to be attending.

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."

Swiss President Viola Amherd, who held a news conference June 10 on preparations, characterized it as a "first step" in a process towards a lasting peace.

Switzerland invited more than 160 delegations, including countries at heads of state and government level, and international organisations.

"Ninety states and organizations have registered to take part in the talks," Reuters reported June 10.

The conference's outcome remains uncertain, even if Switzerland is working hard to strike a potential final declaration.

"It is very important to avoid exaggerated expectations," a German government source stressed, calling it a "building block for a peaceful settlement of this conflict."

"But there will be further building blocks," the source added.

A 'just end' to war

Ukraine hopes to gain broad international support on its conditions to end the war with Russia.

"The inaugural peace summit could become a format that would bring closer a just end to this war," Zelenskyy said on June 7.

The conference was envisaged to involve plenary sessions with all heads present and discussions in smaller formats on various topics.

The program, developed by Bern, draws on Zelenskyy's 10-point peace plan but may focus on territorial sovereignty, a just peace in Ukraine and upholding of the United Nations charter.

It may also home in on three themes -- nuclear security; freedom of navigation and food security; and humanitarian aspects, including prisoner exchanges.

"If we agree on this and other basic principles, we have already made progress," the German government source said.

Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Nicolas Bideau told RTS television that Switzerland would not lead the discussions in these areas but rather "the countries of the Global South, or the countries who have skills in this field."

Laurent Goetschel, director of the Swisspeace research institute, told AFP: "The themes that will be addressed are not the most delicate, but they are nevertheless important."

The Kremlin has repeatedly indicated it will not participate in any negotiations if Kyiv does not accept Russia's annexation of the approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory it occupies.

Moscow has said it is not interested in participating in the summit. Bern therefore did not issue an invitation.