This weekend representatives of 90 or so states will be taking part in a conference at the Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland aimed at finding a route to sustainable peace in Ukraine. Specifically the event will focus on issues such as nuclear safety and security, food safety and prisoner exchanges and the protection of civilians. Formally named the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, it follows other such gatherings based on the Kyiv government’s own peace formula. Notably, however, it will not feature any representation from Russia. What’s more, other major states such as Brazil and China have ignored invitations to attend. Czechia, by contrast will be there, represented by President Petr Pavel and Deputy Foreign Minister Jan Marian – and for Prague’s perspective on the summit I spoke to the latter at the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Czernin Palace on Thursday.
I believe this is the fifth such peace conference for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. What message will you and President Petr Pavel be delivering from Czechia at this conference?
“First, this is the first summit on the highest level, on the level of leaders. Before those were meetings on the level of national security advisors or deputy ministers.
“So this is the first meeting of this kind in the Ukrainian peace formula process.
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Author: Ian Willoughby