Major Ukraine peace summit to kick off in Switzerland - but no Russia or China

Dozens of governments are attending a conference in Switzerland dedicated to setting out a path towards peace between Ukraine and Russia. But there will be no delegation from Moscow.

Nearly 100 countries and organizations are attending a major conference in Switzerland dedicated to setting out a path toward peace between Ukraine and Russia, but there will be no delegation from Moscow. The meeting, which is being held at a resort near Lucerne, will be attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who wants to gather support for the 10-point peace plan he first outlined late in 2022. Most Western governments will be represented, some at a senior level. US Vice President Kamala Harris is attending and is set to announce an aid package of more than $1.5 billion to help Kyiv rebuild its battered infrastructure and address humanitarian needs stemming from the conflict, according to a statement from the White House on Saturday. Heads of state and government from several European states, including France, Germany and the UK are also joining, as is Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. However, China will not attend. It has said that any such meeting needs to be attended by both Russia and Ukraine. Zelensky’s plan includes demands for a cessation of hostilites, the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian soil and the restoration of Ukraine’s pre-war borders with Russia.