 "Ukraine Peace Summit: Who will attend from India if not PM Modi?")
The Ukraine Peace Summit is set to be held this weekend in Switzerland.
The summit will be held at the luxury Bürgenstock resort near the city of Lucerne.
The hotel founded in 1873 has played host to a number of celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin, Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn as well as politicians such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Jimmy Carter, David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir.
Over 90 countries and groups have said they will attend the meeting on 15 and 16 June.
This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Italy to attend the Outreach session of the G7 Summit.
But what do we know about the Ukraine Peace Summit? And who will attend from India if not PM Modi?
Let’s take a closer look:
What do we know about the summit?
The location of the summit was Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s idea.
The aim behind the meet is to garner support for Kyiv’s 10-point peace plan which calls for Russia to completely withdraw its troops from Ukraine’s territory and for Moscow to be held accountable for war crimes.
Switzerland, which is famously neutral, sent out over 160 invitations for the meet.
Over 90 countries and organisations, half from Europe, have confirmed attending the Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace summit over the weekend.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsRussia has refused to attend, calling it a ‘gimmick.’
Switzerland’s president Viola Amherd on Monday told reporters the summitwill aim to chart a path toward possible peace nearly 28 months after Russian forces invaded Ukraine and the war grinding on.
“This is not propaganda,” said Amherd. “This is about the basis of humanitarian aid provided by Switzerland … and to initiate a dialogue.”
The Swiss president added that most participants — about half of which will be represented at the level of head of state or government — are country leaders, but “a handful” are from organisations like the United Nations.
Some, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, are expected to attend the summit at the Buergenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne.
According to The Conversation, the attendance of Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey and South Africa – and at what level – remains in doubt.
There are also hints that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan may give the meet a miss.
Brazil and China said they wouldn’t take part unless both sides – including Russia – were at the table, according to Swiss officials. Beijing has been one of the top supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin since the war started.
Brazil and China said they wouldn’t take part unless both sides – including Russia – were at the table, according to Swiss officials. Beijing has been one of the top supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin since the war started.
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis also addressed reporters, saying Switzerland has repeatedly acknowledged that there cannot be a peace process without Russia. “The question is not whether Russia will be on board, the question is when."
He also said Switzerland is in frequent contact with authorities in Moscow about the conference.
Ukraine has helped coordinate the summit, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend. Cassis said Swiss officials had to balance considerations that Ukraine might not have attended if Russia was represented.
Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov this week called the summit as “empty and worthless,” as per The Telegraph.
What about India? Who will attend if not Modi?
India has said it will participate in the summit.
Though Switzerland has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is almost certain that Modi will not attend.
Sources said that a senior diplomat may represent India at the summit.
Economic Times reported that India is unlikely to join the summit at a “political level” and is expected to send the secretary (West) in the ministry of external affairs.
There are also report that the Indian ambassador to Switzerland may also represent New Delhi at the summit.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday said India will take part in the peace summit in Switzerland at an ‘appropriate level.’
Kwatra did not specify who will represent India at the summit.
“There are many variables that go into consideration while formulating a decision on this. We shall let you know once the level of our participation at this summit is finalised,” Kwatra was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
That consideration is currently going on in the system and as and when we have a decision on the representative from India who’ll be participating, we’ll be very happy to share it with you, he added.
The foreign secretary made the comments at a media briefing he addressed on Modi’s visit to Italy to attend the G7 summit.
Modi in May said “the level of participation will depend on timing, logistics, and parallel commitments.”
Zelenskyy has twice reached out to Modi over the past few months with regard to the summit.
“We discussed the upcoming global peace summit. We rely on India’s participation at the highest level,’’ Zelensky posted on X last week.
“It will be important for us to see India attend the inaugural peace summit, which is currently being prepared in Switzerland,” Zelenskyy wrote on X in March.
Swiss State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alexandre Fasel earlier visited India to extend an invite for the summit.
India is a friend of the world and the global community expects it to contribute significantly in bringing peace to war-torn Ukraine, Fasel told PTI.
Fasel held wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterparts and extended an invitation to the Indian prime minister for his participation at the summit that is aimed at charting a course for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
“India is a friend of the world. There is really an expectation from the international community that India can contribute to this (peace) process,” the top Swiss official said.
With inputs from agencies
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