Leaders from major countries are joining Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a summit starting tomorrow, Saturday, to explore ways to end the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II; however, Russia is not invited and the event will not achieve Kyiv's goal of isolating Moscow.
Vice President Kamala Harris of the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron, and leaders from Germany, Italy, Britain, Canada, and Japan are scheduled to participate in the summit, which will be held on June 15 and 16 at the Bürgenstock resort atop a mountain in Switzerland.
India, which has helped Moscow cope with the impact of economic sanctions, is expected to send a delegation. The foreign ministers of Turkey and Hungary, both of which also maintain friendly relations with Russia, will also attend.
However, despite months of intense Ukrainian mobilization efforts, some other countries will not be present, most notably China, a major consumer of Russian oil and supplier of goods that help Moscow maintain its industrial base.
Zelensky stated in Berlin on Tuesday, "This meeting is already a result," also acknowledging the challenge of maintaining international support as the war continues into its third year. Zelensky visited Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the summit with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but it was not immediately clear if the Kingdom would send a representative.
The idea of the summit was raised after Zelensky proposed a 10-point peace plan in late 2022.
