A peace conference on Ukraine is scheduled to be held this weekend at the luxury Bürgenstock resort on Lake Lucerne. Switzerland wanted to achieve a breakthrough through this meeting, at least at the diplomatic level. Your image should help as a neutral medium.
But even before the first heads of state and government arrived on the Swiss mountain in canton Nidwalden, the conference was threatening to fail. One dimension Report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Other countries canceled their participation in the summit. American Radio, citing „several anonymous European diplomats,” reported that the number of countries and organizations that have confirmed their participation in the peace summit in Ukraine has now decreased from 93 to 78 countries.
The recordings known so far are alarming. Only Ukraine’s usual backers such as France, Germany, Poland, Canada and the European Union are represented at the highest level. But US President Joe Biden will not come, but will send his deputy, Kamala Harris. Instead of the Swiss mountains, Biden will participate in an elegant fundraiser with Hollywood stars in Los Angeles on Saturday, the first day of the Ukraine conference.
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Zelensky accuses „some countries” of sabotaging the conference
Volodymyr Zelensky asked Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping several times in recent weeks to come to Switzerland. Two weeks ago, the official rejection came from China. Beijing said it was not interested in participating because the Russian Federation did not participate. Since then, reports have increased that China is planning to hold a counter-summit in cooperation with Brazil – with the Russians in attendance.
Zelensky expressed his anger at a conference held in Singapore last week. He accused „some countries” of sabotaging the Burgenstock summit.
This refers primarily to the countries of the Global South, whose engagement Zelensky has placed particular emphasis on. Some will come, but the heavyweights are wary. Of Brazil, India, China and South Africa, which together with Russia form the BRICS group, only Indians confirmed their commitment. They will only be allowed to send a lower-ranking delegation.
The federal government also appears to be downplaying the importance of the upcoming Bürgenstock summit. In response to a query from BSW Bundestag member Sevim Dagdelen, the Foreign Office responded that it viewed the meeting as a “space for exchange.” In addition, Tobias Lindner, State Secretary at the Foreign Office, emphasized in the response available to the Berliner Zeitung that the inclusion should be discussed at future conferences.
Politician BSW Dagdelen: Schulz should support the peace initiative between Brazil and China
Sevim Dagdelin commented on the federal government’s position to the Berliner Zeitung newspaper, saying: „The federal government’s downgrading of the Switzerland-Ukraine summit to a mere 'space for exchange’ represents a serious setback for President Zelensky.” The Bundestag member said: “Chancellor Schulz must support the initiative of Brazil and China to hold an international peace conference, and given the complete diplomatic failure in the Foreign Ministry, he must appoint his own representative for the political settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.”
The peace summit being organized by Switzerland this weekend at Zelensky’s request threatens to become increasingly an illusion. Even Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis admitted in a press conference on Monday that the meeting in Bürgenstock should only be seen as a “first step” in a sustainable peace process. Cassis said that a sustainable peace process requires the participation of all relevant actors.
