The summit on the war between Russia and Ukraine is held this weekend (15 and 16 June) at the Burgenstock Resort, a complex loved by VIPs in Switzerland. The peace conference, organized by the government of Bernhad started with optimistic expectations but gradually had to review his objectives: either because the war entered a very bloody phase, or because Moscow deserts the meeting, perhaps because the West has shown its support for Kiev in other places (a new aid package for Ukraine was decided at the G7). So, what remains of the Swiss summit and what are the objectives it can achieve? Here is a brief summary of the situation.
Who is there and who isn’t there
Volodymyr Zelensky will be the most important character present at Burgenstock. But there will be no Vladimir Putinnor any Russian representative. «Without us the summit is a waste of time» the dry comment came from the Kremlin. There was hope until the end that Joe Biden would arrive but the president will return to the US for an election campaign commitment. Washington will be represented by White House deputy Kamala Harris. China will also desert the meeting, having put pressure on a series of countries not to send delegations. Saudi Arabia is also absent. In the end, representatives of should sit at the table around 80 countries.
What are the starting points
The starting point of the discussion is peace plan put forward by the Kiev government. The latter demands the withdrawal of Moscow’s troops from all occupied territories, the restoration of Ukrainian territorial integrity. support for reconstruction. the liberation of prisoners of war. But in the last few hours Putin has reiterated his conditions for peace which are diametrically opposed: transfer of four Ukrainian provinces to Moscow, no to Kiev’s entry into NATO. In short, we are wall to wall.
What is the possible goal
The summit will be a success if only a joint declaration can be reached among all the participants but even this goal will not be easy, unless we imagine a document that expresses very generic principles. The goal is more ambitious bring together an international front – as broad as possible – that expresses support for Ukraine. The role that the so-called Brics countries will play will be fundamental (but Moscow and Beijing, as anticipated, will not be involved while India and Brazil did not send top-level representatives) or the African delegations. The discussion will start on some general chapters (humanitarian assistance, safety of navigation in the Black Sea, nuclear power plants, food exports): the lines on which future peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will be set will be drawn.
The position of Switzerland
“Switzerland with its humanitarian and diplomatic tradition, it cannot simply stand by and watch; even if it means climbing a mountain” he declared on the eve of the summit Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. Which, if the objective starting difficulties were not enough, must also deal with a «internal front». At the outbreak of the conflict, Bern aligned itself with the EU positions by triggering sanctions against Russia but then hesitated both on the blocking of the assets of the Russian oligarchs and on war supplies to Kiev. Some parties, starting with the sovereignists of the UDC, which have a relative majority in Switzerland, believe the government has compromised the country’s tradition of neutrality.
