Switzerland to host Ukraine peace summit at Zelensky's request
(Baonghean.vn) - According to Reuters news agency, Switzerland agreed on January 15 to host a global peace summit on Ukraine at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Switzerland, with its neutral stance, has played a mediating role in resolving conflicts and is now expected to help find a solution to the war that broke out on February 24, 2022 in Ukraine, the news agency said.
“At the request of the President of Ukraine, Switzerland has agreed to host a summit on the peace formula. Further details are currently being worked out,” the Swiss government said.
Speaking alongside his Swiss counterpart Viola Amherd at a press conference in Bern, Mr Zelensky did not provide a full list of participants at the planned peace summit but he did hint at those he would like to see attend.
“We welcome all countries that respect our sovereignty and territorial integrity to be present at the peace summit, so let's draw conclusions about who we invite,” Zelensky said.
The leader in Kiev stressed that he wanted the Southern Hemisphere to be represented, and for Mr. Zelensky, it was important to show that the whole world was “against Russia” and that the whole world was moving toward “a just peace.”
Neither Mr. Zelensky nor Ms. Amherd provided any details about when or where the summit might take place in Switzerland. They said their teams would begin organizing the meeting starting on January 16.
Mr Zelensky is in Switzerland, where he is expected to meet other world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Among the officials he could meet is Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who is also in Davos this week.
Ukraine said on January 14 that it was important for Beijing to join talks to end the conflict.
On January 15, Mr. Zelensky said that China, one of Russia's important allies, had taken on a "big role" in the world and he wanted Beijing to participate.
“We would very much like China to join our peace formula, as well as to participate in the summit. But not everything depends on our wishes,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Ukrainian President Zelensky first unveiled his peace formula at the G20 summit. His peace formula calls for restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, withdrawing Russian troops and ending hostilities, as well as releasing all prisoners and detainees, among other things.
The Kremlin on January 15 dismissed talks in Davos on Ukraine's peace proposals, saying nothing would be achieved because Russia was not taking part in the discussions.
