Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has spoken about possible “communication” with Russia after a peace conference on Ukraine is held in Switzerland, Foreign Policy reports.
Answering the question what is the point of holding a peace conference on Ukraine in Switzerland without Russia, the minister said:
“Communication with Russia may take place and Russia can be part of the talks. Because you are right: In the end, you cannot put the war to an end without both parties.”
Meanwhile, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that any talks on Ukraine without Russia would not lead to a peaceful dialogue. He said in a statement:
“We don’t understand what kind of milestone this peace conference is. This is, first of all. What kind of serious conference with serious expectations, some kind of results can be talked about without Russia’s participation. It is absolutely impossible.”
Switzerland will hold a peace conference on Ukraine near the city of Lucerne on 15-16 June. Among the invitees are the G7, G20 and BRICS countries. Representatives of such international organisations as the UN, the OSCE and the European Council have also been invited to the summit. Russia is not on the list of invited participants “at the moment,” but the ministry noted the openness of the idea to send an invitation.
