China will not participate in Swiss peace conference on Ukraine
3 Min Read
Sources told Reuters that China will not participate in the Ukraine peace conference, as its conditions were not met.
-
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attend a joint news conference following the talks in Beijing, China, on April 9, 2024. (AP)
China will not attend the Ukraine peace conference hosted by Switzerland next month, four sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The Ukraine peace conference, aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine, will not include a main party in the conflict, Russia.
In this context, China reportedly declined the invitation to the conference, as its conditions for participation were not met, including the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, Reuters sources revealed.
The Swiss government, which has supposedly always taken a neutral stance on conflicts, has made its position on the Ukrainian crisis explicitly clear by not extending an invitation to the conference to Moscow.
Read more: Putin open to dialogue on Ukraine, praises Chinese efforts : Xinhua
Absurd summit leaves China displeased
The summit will be held between June 15 and 16. Switzerland hopes that a broad-based turnout to the meetings will occur. However, not inviting Russia to the meeting has stirred up controversy, as the country is a main party in the conflict and no peace process can be achieved without its active contribution.
Beijing told its diplomats this week that the conditions that were not met included that the conference should be recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, there be equal participation by all parties, and that there be a fair discussion of all proposals, one of the sources told Reuters.
China also attempted to position itself as a viable mediator between the warring sides last year, however, its efforts came to avail as the Ukrainian and Western sides sidelined the possibility of a peaceful settlement to the crisis.
Read more: Scholz eyes Chinese role in 'just peace' in Ukraine
Zelensky wants maximum participation; Biden's attendance uncertain
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for maximum participation in the conference and took a swing at Biden, saying the absence of US President Joe Biden from the summit is like giving Russian President Vladimir Putin "a standing ovation."
Biden has not yet confirmed if he will attend the conference.
"I believe that the Peace Summit needs President Biden, and other leaders who are looking at the US response also need him," he added.
Accusing countries that will not attend as being "satisfied with the war," Zelensky said, "And if you want war, you will go to the mob that Russia wants to organize."
Ruling out Russia's participation and accusing Putin of trying to derail the summit, the Ukrainian President claimed, "Putin is very scared of the peace summit," adding, "He has been trying to thwart this summit and continues to do so."
Read more: China ready to mediate efforts on Ukrainian crisis: diplomat
