Scholz: Russia must be present at follow-up conference on Ukraine
Published: Saturday, Jun 15th 2024, 10:20
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dampened expectations for the international conference on the Bürgenstock NW to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking on Saturday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in southern Italy, Scholz told broadcaster ZDF that the aim was to lay the foundations for a follow-up conference.
"And then it will also depend on Russia being involved," said Scholz. "That's why this is a diplomatic seedling that we are now watering so that it grows bigger." Scholz wanted to travel to Switzerland on Saturday.
German government circles also warned against "exaggerated expectations". The peace conference will take place immediately after the G7 summit in Italy, at which the heads of state and government pledged their continued support and 50 billion dollars to Ukraine.
Heads of state and government and other high-ranking representatives from around 90 countries are expected to attend the conference in Switzerland. Vice President Kamala Harris is coming from the USA. China and other countries close to the aggressor Russia are staying away from the meeting or are not sending high-ranking representatives. Russia is also not at the table.
At the luxury resort high above Lake Lucerne near Lucerne, the delegations want to discuss issues such as grain exports from Ukraine, the safety of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and humanitarian issues such as the exchange of prisoners.
©Keystone/SDA
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