Switzerland rejects Russian criticism of planned peace summit for Ukraine

DAVOS, Switzerland (AA) - Swiss President Viola Amherd has rejected criticism by Moscow of a possible peace summit hosted by Switzerland aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking to reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Amherd emphasized that Switzerland has always been on the side of international humanitarian law.

"When you are on the side of the civilian population, you are on the right side," she said.

Russia has repeatedly criticized Switzerland for "abandoning its neutrality" after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, saying that such a peace summit would be "meaningless and harmful."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in the capital Bern for an official visit, met with Amherd on Jan. 15.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Zelenskyy said they would start planning on Jan. 16 for the peace summit with Switzerland.

Zelenskyy said only countries that support Ukraine's territorial integrity would be invited to the summit, that Russia would not take part in the talks and that he hoped China would attend.

Amherd, stressing that Switzerland supports the peace process, said: "I confirmed Switzerland's readiness to organize the conference. We agreed that the details of the future approach will be examined in depth in order for this peace process to succeed."

Emphasizing that they wanted a "broad-based" conference and that many countries should participate, she noted that they would do so if they believed they could organize a successful conference.

​​​​​​​*Writing in Istanbul by Zeynep Cetin