Kremlin says Switzerland conference on Ukraine is pointless without Russia | World News

The Kremlin has made it clear that a planned summit in Switzerland aimed at paving the way for peace in Ukraine will be futile without the participation of Russia. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, emphasized the importance of Russia’s involvement in discussions regarding security issues related to Ukraine.

“Without Russia, discussing security issues that concern us is absolutely futile,” Peskov stated in an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia. He expressed skepticism about the summit, suggesting that it may result in “empty scholasticism” without tangible outcomes.

Switzerland announced that over 50 countries have signed up for the summit scheduled for June 15-16 near Lucerne. Despite efforts to persuade more countries, including those from the Global South and China, Russia remains excluded from the conference.

Peskov noted that while a balanced approach by China could enhance the conference’s credibility, it would not necessarily improve its effectiveness. Countries from South America, Africa, and the Middle East have confirmed their participation, following Swiss President Viola Amherd’s agreement to host the summit at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The exclusion of Russia from the summit raises questions about the potential success of the peace process in Ukraine. As tensions continue to simmer in the region, the international community faces challenges in finding a resolution to the conflict.