Pope Francis receives invitation to attend Switzerland conference focused on Ukraine matters
The Swiss city of Geneva will play host to an international conference on Ukraine from June 15-16, with around 160 countries invited to attend. However, one notable absence from the list of participants is Russia, a fact confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova.
According to Zakharova, Switzerland has lost its neutral status and ability to act as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict, stating that the conference is not serving as a platform for dialogue to resolve the conflict.
This decision to exclude Russia from the conference aligns with the approach taken at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) held in Rome in July 2025. The URC2025 explicitly excluded Russia, with Ukraine only welcoming "true partners" who do not support Russia's war efforts.
The Swiss conference will see the participation of a broad coalition of European, Commonwealth, and allied states, united to support Ukraine's defense and recovery. Notable attendees will include European nations, with prominent attendance by the Prime Ministers or Presidents of Italy, Germany, Poland, and many others. European Union institutions, including the European Commission, will also be in attendance, with Ursula von der Leyen announcing substantial financial and military aid packages for Ukraine.
Members of the "coalition of the willing" (formed earlier in 2025), led by the United Kingdom and France, will also be present. This coalition, comprising about 30 European and Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Turkey, and others, will plan support and security efforts for Ukraine.
In addition to these countries, South Africa, China, India, and Brazil received invitations to the conference last week. The Vatican has also received an invitation, expressing strong support for the event. No new countries have been reported to have received invitations since the invitations to the aforementioned countries last week.
While Russia is not participating in the conference, the Vatican and the participating countries remain hopeful that this international gathering will contribute to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
- The ongoing absence of Russia in conferences involving Ukraine, such as the Swiss conference and the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025), can be seen as a reflection of the political landscape shaped by war-and-conflicts and the broader politics surrounding the region.
- Despite Russia's exclusion, the Swiss conference on Ukraine, as well as other general news events focusing on the conflict, are valued for their potential to foster dialogue and peace among participating nations.
