MOSCOW, June 17. Russia’s involvement in peace talks is essential to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba. Speaking at a Swiss conference on Ukraine, the diplomat highlighted that “both sides are needed” for successful negotiations. He acknowledged the differing perspectives of Western countries and the Global South regarding how best to address the situation.
The Burgenstock resort in Switzerland hosted the Ukraine conference on June 15-16, inviting over 160 delegations from nations such as the G7, G20, and BRICS. However, Russia was not invited to participate in the talks. Despite this, Russian authorities have consistently maintained that the crisis cannot be resolved without their involvement, rendering the Swiss conference inconclusive in their eyes.
Kuleba reiterated that a resolution to the Ukraine conflict will only become possible when both sides are willing to engage in dialogue. Of course, we understand perfectly well that the moment will come when it will be necessary to talk to Russia,” he stated. The foreign minister also acknowledged the varied opinions of Western countries and those from the Global South on how best to resolve the conflict.
In contrast to the voices heard from the Global South about the need for difficult compromises, Kuleba noted that such language is not typically used by their Western partners. This underscores the challenge in finding a unified approach among nations with diverse perspectives and priorities when it comes to addressing the crisis in Ukraine.
As the conflict continues to escalate, it is clear that Russia’s presence at the negotiating table is seen as critical by some parties in order to achieve peace and stability in the region. However, the ongoing differences in opinion between nations make finding a mutually agreeable solution more complex than ever before. As such, it remains to be seen whether genuine progress can be made towards resolving this ongoing crisis.
