India’s Role in Bringing Peace to Ukraine in Focus at Swiss Summit
NEW DELHI: India’s global standing as a ‘friend of the world’ has come into focus as Switzerland prepares to host a major summit next month aimed at ending the conflict in war-torn Ukraine. Swiss state secretary of foreign affairs Alexandre Fasel emphasized the global community’s expectation for India to contribute significantly to bringing peace to Ukraine during his visit to New Delhi on Friday.
Fasel held discussions with Indian officials and extended an invitation to the Prime Minister for the summit scheduled for June 15 and 16. Over 160 countries have been invited to participate at the head of state and head of government level.
“India is a friend of peace. India has great experience in conflict transformation and peace promotion. The expectation really is that we can work together and count on India’s support,” Fasel stated, highlighting India’s diplomatic influence and leadership in the Global South.
With India’s close ties to both Russia and Ukraine, Fasel expressed hope that New Delhi would play a crucial role in helping the summit chart a roadmap for peace. However, India has not yet confirmed its attendance at the summit due to ongoing elections.
The Swiss diplomat acknowledged the challenges of achieving a complete peace agreement at the summit, emphasizing that it will be a process towards a negotiated settlement of the conflict. When asked about India’s participation, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson stated that a decision is yet to be made.
As the international community looks towards India for its support in bringing peace to Ukraine, all eyes will be on the upcoming summit in Switzerland to see how the global community can come together to end the conflict.