100 delegations attend Ukraine conference in Switzerland today (June 15)
The Swiss Federal Council said 57 of those delegations will attend the summit at the level of heads of state and heads of government.
According to TASS news agency, in a statement posted on its official website, the Swiss Federal Council (i.e. Government) said it will host 100 delegations at the conference on Ukraine, including 57 delegations at the level of heads of state and heads of government.
"President Viola Amherd will open a summit on peace in Ukraine on Saturday, June 15. 100 delegations will attend the summit, including 57 heads of state and government from around the world," the Swiss government said, adding that the number included delegations from Switzerland, Ukraine and organizations.
Russia was not invited to Burgenstock. Bern stated that one of the goals of the conference was to "set out a vision for the next steps including Russia's participation".
“The summit also provides an opportunity to discuss for the first time at the highest level how and when Russia can be involved in this process. For the Federation Council, developing a lasting solution ultimately requires the participation of both sides,” the statement said.
According to TASS, the Swiss government did not mention that initially, more than 160 invitations were sent and that China, in particular, refused to attend. Beijing refused due to the fact that “both Russia and Ukraine need to recognize” the conference.
Some countries are not sending top officials. Australia will send the minister in charge of its national disability insurance scheme, although Kiev has offered to send its prime minister or deputy prime minister.
However, the German Chancellor, the French President and the prime ministers of Canada and Japan are expected to arrive in Burgenstock immediately after the G7 summit in Italy.
On June 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with senior Foreign Ministry officials that it is impossible to find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict without Russia's participation and frank dialogue.
According to the Russian leader, it is clear that even now neither the "truly fundamental issues" that caused the current crisis in international security and stability nor the real origins of the Ukrainian conflict "will be discussed in Switzerland, despite all efforts to make the summit's agenda more or less decent."
“We can clearly expect that everything will be nothing more than demographic talks and a new set of accusations against Russia,” the Russian president stressed.
