The Blubber

Zelensky has asked Switzerland to organise a high level peace conference for the Ukraine war, per Reuters.

Switzerland has accepted the request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to host a global peace summit on Ukraine, signaling its potential role as a neutral broker in resolving the conflict that erupted when Russia deployed troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

The Swiss government confirmed the agreement, stating, "At the request of the Ukrainian president, Switzerland has agreed to host a summit on the peace formula. Further details are now being worked out." Zelenskyy, during a joint press conference with Swiss counterpart Viola Amherd in Bern, did not disclose a comprehensive list of participants but indicated the desire for nations respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity to attend.

"We are open to all countries that respect our sovereignty and territorial integrity at the peace summit, so draw conclusions about who we invite," Zelenskyy noted. He emphasized the importance of global representation, expressing, "We would like the Global South to be present ... it is important for us to show that the whole world is against Russia's aggression, and the whole world is for a just peace."

Details regarding the timing and location of the summit in Switzerland were not provided by Zelenskyy or Amherd. Both leaders mentioned that their teams would commence organizing the summit starting Tuesday.

Zelenskyy, present in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum in Davos, hinted at potential meetings with world leaders attending the event. Among them could be Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Zelenskyy stressed the importance of China's involvement in peace talks, considering it plays a significant role in global affairs.

"We would very much like China to be involved in our (peace) formula, as well as in the summit," Zelenskyy stated. However, he acknowledged that not everything depended on Ukraine's wishes.

Zelenskyy introduced his peace formula at a November summit of the Group of 20 major economies, outlining key principles such as restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, withdrawal of Russian troops, cessation of hostilities, and the release of prisoners. Despite discussions in Davos, the Kremlin dismissed the talks on Ukraine's peace proposals, citing Russia's exclusion from the discussions.