Switzerland invited the Pope to a conference on peace in Ukraine

Switzerland has sent an invitation to the Vatican to take part in a conference on peace in Ukraine, which will be held in mid-June without the participation of Russia. About this in interview with Blick said Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd.

On Saturday she met with Pope Francis and, according to her, among the issues discussed was the war in Ukraine. When asked by the newspaper whether the pope would attend the peace conference in Switzerland, Amherd replied: “The Vatican is very positive about the peace conference.”

The President also confirmed that she had extended invitations to Brazil, India, China and South Africa – all of these countries, along with Russia, are part of the BRICS group, representing the largest developing countries in the world. According to Amherd, the reaction from these countries to the invitations has been “positive”. So far, however, there is no official confirmation of the participation of their representatives in the conference, which will be held on June 15-16 at the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock.

Amherd said she hoped for “wide participation” in the conference, which she said would focus on four main themes – humanitarian aspects, nuclear safety, freedom of navigation and food security. All these points are included in the so-called peace formula of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. “Another success would be if we could take a concrete approach to the peace process,” the Swiss president said.

In total, Switzerland invited more than 160 countries and international organizations. Russia has not been invited, but Swiss authorities say that progress in the peace process is impossible without Moscow’s participation, and the conference should also discuss issues of its involvement in the negotiations.

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba previously stated that the goal of the international conference on peace in Ukraine, which will be held in Switzerland, is to create a coalition of countries with common approaches to a peaceful settlement. After this, it is possible to involve Russia in the negotiations.

Moscow has previously said it would not take part in the meeting in Switzerland even if it were invited. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday reiterated that Russia is not ready to discuss the Ukrainian “peace formula,” one of the main points of which is the withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire internationally recognized territory of Ukraine.

• Since the beginning of the Russian large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Pope has been declaring the need for a peaceful settlement, he condemns the war and expresses solidarity with its victims. At the same time, Francis is often criticized in Ukraine for not directly condemning the Russian authorities for aggression. In March, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky sharply responded to the head of the Catholic Church, who proposed that Kyiv and Moscow sit down at the negotiating table without preconditions, saying that such proposals actually equate the aggressor and the victim. A number of European politicians expressed the same opinion.