A summit aimed at fostering a peace process in Ukraine has attracted delegations from over 50 countries, Swiss President Viola Amherd said.
Reuters reports that the neutral Swiss government aimed for a diverse representation from around the globe. Amherd said her country had issued 160 invitations for the conference, taking place next month.
But reports suggest that key countries from the Global South, including China, Brazil and South Africa, may not show up.
TASS reports that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will not attend the conference on Ukraine, scheduled for June 15-16 in Switzerland, given commitments related to South Africa’s elections taking place next week.
TASS also cited reports suggesting that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil will also decided not to participate in the conference on Ukraine. According to reports, Russia has not attended any of the talks related to the conflict.
South Africa’s international relations minister Naledi Pandor recently said that her country is trying to bring the two sides in the conflict together. Pandor said South Africa was the only country that was engaging both Russia and Ukraine to find a solution to the war.
Countries in South America, Africa and the Middle East were among those that have confirmed their attendance, according to Amherd. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed a wish to see China at the international talks in Switzerland. China is yet to state whether it meet that request, though its ambassador to Switzerland has not ruled that out, CNN reports.
Read more: South Africa to push for Russia to join Ukraine peace talks
