Cassis: Russia must be involved in some way
Published: Sunday, Jan 14th 2024, 16:50
Updated At: Sunday, Jan 14th 2024, 16:50
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More than 80 delegations from all over the world have taken part in a conference in Davos GR on Ukraine's proposals for a lasting peace. Agreement on basic principles for a peace solution at such a broad level could help to bring Russia to the negotiating table one day, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told the media on Sunday.
"It takes a step to involve Russia in one way or another," said Cassis during the lunch break at the Ukraine conference. Without Russia, there will be no peace.
China, which did not take part, must also be involved as far as possible, said Cassis. It was encouraging that countries from the Brics group of emerging economies such as Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa were keeping the channels of communication with Moscow open. The more countries that participate, not only from the West but from all over the world, the more likely it is that a creative solution can be found.
It was unclear exactly how Russia should be involved. According to Cassis, the international community must move forward, even if a dialog between Kiev and Moscow cannot yet take place. "Every day that we wait, dozens of civilians die. We have no right to wait," said the Swiss Foreign Minister and Co-President of the Ukraine Conference. "We must be ready for the time" when the conditions would allow peace talks.
Ukraine hopes for world peace summit
The conference once again focused on the so-called Ukraine peace formula. The ten-point plan provides for the withdrawal of all Russian troops, penalties for Russian war criminals, reparations and security guarantees. It was the fourth meeting of its kind.
At the start of the conference in Davos, Ukraine expressed its hope that an agreement could be reached on a format for a world peace summit. "I hope we can find an acceptable solution," said Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, at the start of the conference, according to a statement. "We need a platform to fix certain parts of our overall plan."
According to the information, Jermak once again rejected a temporary ceasefire with Russia. A simple ceasefire would not end the Russian aggression in Ukraine, but would only give the aggressor a break to gather its strength, Jermak said.
"Common language"
The Federal Council considered the lively participation in the Ukraine conference in Davos, including from the southern states, to be a success. In addition, a "common language" is emerging on some of the points in the peace plan proposed by Ukraine.
According to the Federal Council, the conference in Davos will be the last discussion on the peace formula at the level of security advisors. Ukraine would next like a world peace summit at a higher level of talks. "We are considering this", and talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi would take place in the next few days, the Federal Councillor added. Moscow has described the process as a farce in the past.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian attack with Western help since February 24, 2022. Neither side is yet prepared to make any concessions, said Cassis. There is still a long way to go before a peaceful solution is found.
Zelensky is expected to arrive in Davos in person. He wanted to give a speech at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Tuesday.
©Keystone/SDA
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