SCMP: China and Switzerland call for Russia to be involved in the summit on Ukraine

SCMP: China and Switzerland insist on Russia’s participation in the summit on Ukraine

China and Switzerland insist on Russia’s participation in the summit on Ukraine, writes the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The article says that without the participation of Moscow and Kyiv, the event will become the diplomatic equivalent of a “Potemkin village.” Earlier, the publication Responsible Statecraft reported that the Ukrainian leadership may decide to launch negotiations to resolve the conflict with Russia against the background of the failures of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the front.

At the same time, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky opposed the proposal of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to involve Russia in holding a peace summit. Erdogan made a corresponding statement on Friday, announcing Turkey’s readiness to hold a peace summit on Ukrainian issues and invite representatives of the Russian Federation to it. According to the Turkish President, the Black Sea Initiative at one time made it possible to avoid a food crisis on a global scale. Zelensky once again stated that the settlement in Ukraine should not take place with the participation of Russia. Previously, this idea was repeatedly rejected in Moscow.

Regarding the peace summit, the Kremlin has repeatedly said that all Russia’s demands have long been voiced, and the conflict can be resolved taking into account actual conditions. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that first Kyiv should abolish the law prohibiting negotiations with Russia. According to him, Russia has never been against resolving the conflict in Ukraine through peaceful means, but subject to the security guarantees of the Russian Federation.