Nehammer: Ukraine peace conference is a search for allies
Published: Saturday, Jun 15th 2024, 17:00
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As many states as possible should exert pressure on Moscow to agree to a genuine peace process in the Ukraine war. The West alone cannot fix it, says Austria's chancellor.
According to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the Ukraine conference in Switzerland is a possible way out of a dead end. "We are like in a Western echo chamber. We are all in agreement, but that is not enough," said the Austrian head of government on the fringes of the two-day meeting on the Bürgenstock near Lucerne.
The EU and the US need to find more allies in order to increase the pressure on Moscow in the Ukraine war. "Without parts of Asia, Africa and South America, we will not succeed in getting the Russian Federation to change its mind."
Countries such as India, Brazil, China and South Africa are particularly important here. The fact that India and Brazil were represented at the meeting - albeit not at ministerial level - was a "first glimmer of hope", said Nehammer.
The two-day meeting of 92 states and eight international organizations aims to outline the first steps towards a possible peace process in the Ukraine war. Specifically, issues such as nuclear safety and food security will be addressed.
Shortly before the start of the conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi declared that the conference would increase the pressure on Moscow. Swiss President Viola Amherd, on the other hand, dampened expectations. "Our goals are modest."
Russia is not represented at the meeting on the Bürgenstock near Lucerne. Moscow was not interested and had not been invited. China, an important ally of Moscow, is also not present.
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