Ukraine Peace Conference: Who Will Attend the Negotiations in Switzerland?

About 90 governmental and non-governmental delegations have confirmed their participation in a meeting in Switzerland aimed at creating a pathway for peace in Ukraine. This meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 15 and 16, at the Bürgenstock resort outside the city of Lucerne. Reuters has a report reviewing the main actors participating in the negotiations as well as some notable absentees, including Russia and China. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will use the Swiss negotiations to garner support for Ukraine's position on three key issues related to the Russian invasion: food security, nuclear safety, and the freedom of all prisoners and the return of deportees. Organized at Ukraine's request by Switzerland, and since Zelensky called for a wide range of countries to participate in these negotiations, Switzerland has invited over 160 delegations. Ukraine states that although Moscow has not been invited to these negotiations, it could be invited to a future meeting, but under Kyiv's conditions. Russian officials have repeatedly described such a meeting as pointless since the initial announcement of the Swiss negotiations in January this year. Although Switzerland claims that Russia should be part of the peace process, it did not invite Moscow to these negotiations as it has not seen any willingness from Moscow to participate in this meeting. Switzerland states that the negotiations should outline a 'roadmap' for how Russia and Ukraine can engage in the future. Beijing, which has close ties with Moscow, announced that it would not participate in the Swiss negotiations, describing the presence of both warring parties as a prerequisite for any 'real peace conference.' Both the United States and Ukraine have recently pressured China to attend the meeting, reminding that China has participated in previous conferences aimed at seeking solutions. Zelensky accused Beijing of helping Moscow undermine the Swiss meeting, but China has denied such allegations. From the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will attend the Swiss negotiations. The White House, which has provided extensive military aid to Ukraine, has noted that Harris will express the United States' commitment to 'supporting Ukraine's efforts to secure a just and lasting peace.' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will also participate in this event. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, who hosted Zelensky's fourth visit to Paris since the Russian invasion less than ten days ago, will be present at the Swiss meeting. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also heading to Switzerland just days after Germany hosted a conference to increase support for Ukraine's reconstruction, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also attend this meeting. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, and Moldovan President Maia Sandu will also participate in this event. Hungary, which has maintained its close ties with Moscow and is critical of Western sanctions against Russia, has stated that it will send its foreign minister to these negotiations, just like Turkey. Switzerland has stated that India is also among the participants in the negotiations, although it is unclear at what level. The Brazilian ambassador is expected to attend the event, just a few days after the Brazilian President reminded the Swiss President in Geneva that they have differing views on the Ukraine war. It is still unclear whether South Africa, another member of the BRICS group that includes Russia, will participate in the negotiations. Switzerland noted that about half of the participating delegations are from South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will also attend this meeting. Australia has sent Bill Shorten, the Minister for National Disability Insurance and former leader of the ruling Labor Party, to Switzerland as the Australian Prime Minister could not attend the negotiations due to an official visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.