GENEVA, April 10. /TASS/. The idea of a high-level conference on Ukraine has received substantial support around the world, the Swiss Federal Council said in a statement released in Bern.
At the meeting on April 10, the government "took note of the results" of the talks which Switzerland held in recent months "with G7 member states, the EU and representatives of the Global South such as China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia."
"There is currently sufficient international support for a high-level conference to launch the peace process," the statement said adding that the conference would be held in Burgenstock, central Switzerland, in June 2024.
Bern proceeds from the fact that "the conditions are now in place for the conference to be able to initiate a peace process."
The initial step is "to develop a common understanding among the participating states with a view to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine."
The Federal Council "is aware that there are still some unknowns leading up to June, but in view of Switzerland’s long-standing diplomatic tradition and the encouraging feedback received during the exploratory phase, it considers it its responsibility to contribute to the peace process in Ukraine."
"The exploratory phase has thus been concluded and the implementation phase is now under way," the government stated.
At the press conference in Bern on April 10, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said that Russia would not participate in the conference in Burgenstock. However, he pointed out that "no peace process can take place without Russia, even if it won’t be present at the first meeting." Swiss President Viola Amherd said at this press conference that she had already informed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. She alleged that the goal of the conference was "to find ways to start the negotiating process" by engaging "as many countries as possible."
According to the Swiss public broadcasting organization RTS, the conference will be held on June 15-16.