India’s role in bringing peace to war-torn Ukraine has been highlighted by Swiss state secretary of foreign affairs Alexandre Fasel, who described India as a ‘friend of the world’ with great experience in conflict transformation and peace promotion. Fasel extended an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister for a major summit in Switzerland next month aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine.
With invites extended to over 160 countries, the summit on June 15 and 16 is expected to bring together global leaders to chart a course for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Fasel expressed hope that India, as a leader of the Global South with diplomatic clout and influence, would play a significant role in the peace process.
While India has not yet confirmed its attendance at the summit due to ongoing elections, Fasel emphasized the importance of India’s close ties with both Russia and Ukraine in helping to facilitate peace negotiations. He acknowledged that the summit would be a process towards a negotiated settlement rather than a quick peace agreement.
When asked about the absence of Russia and China at the summit, Fasel noted that Beijing’s attendance was still uncertain. He emphasized the importance of the summit as a step towards peace and expressed optimism about India’s potential contribution to the process. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson stated that India is yet to decide on its participation in the summit.