New Delhi: It has been almost two and a half years since the war between Russia and Ukraine. Despite thousands of deaths, the war between Ukraine and Russia is not ending. This is the reason why the whole world is now engaged in efforts to end wars and restore peace. Yes, more than 100 countries of the world have come together to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The Ukraine Peace Summit has started in Switzerland from Saturday. The Ukraine war will be discussed in detail in this international summit. Prime Ministers and other high-level representatives of around 100 countries and international organizations are participating in this conference. India is also included in this committee.
More importantly, Russia and China are not attending the Ukraine Peace Summit. But India has joined it without worrying about anything. The summit is being held at the Burgenstock resort near the city of Lucerne in Switzerland. India is represented at this Ukraine Peace Summit by Pawan Kapoor, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs. Interestingly, India is the only South Asian country participating in this Ukraine Peace Summit. China and Pakistan, who boast about everything, are not participating in this summit.
Pakistan and China raised their hands
The list of participating countries in this Ukraine Peace Summit has been announced. According to this list, India is the only South Asian country participating in the convention. A total of over 90 countries have confirmed their participation in the summit. Half of them are from Europe. Many organizations including the United Nations will also participate in the convention. Russia has not been invited to this summit. While Switzerland sent invitations to China and Pakistan. But both of them are not participating in this summit of their own free will. Both of them are pointing guns at Russia’s shoulders.
Why isn’t China joining?
Rejecting the invitation to the Ukraine peace summit, China said Russia would not attend the meeting. Therefore, Ukraine’s unilateral presence at the peace summit will become meaningless. Beijing has said that rather than a conference, it is a platform for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to promote his ‘peace formula’. Pakistan has also refused to participate in this summit citing Russia. Experts believe that Pakistan and China do not want to anger Russia. Both believe that if Russia is not participating in this summit, they do not want to take any risk by going to this summit.
India showed its courage
However, India does not care what any country thinks about this. India has been advocating peace in the Russia-Ukraine war since its inception. PM Modi has repeatedly reiterated at different forums that peace can only be achieved through dialogue in the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia has been a very close and good friend of India. But India has made its stand clear when it comes to world peace and humanity. India has not tried to stay in the background like China and Pakistan. There is no point in remaining neutral when two countries of the world are wreaking havoc on each other. This is the reason why India is participating in this summit.
Who is involved, what is the discussion?
Prime Ministers of more than 50 countries are participating in this summit. The conference will be attended by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The purpose of the summit is to pave the way for peace in Ukraine. All these countries will discuss a range of issues, including grain exports from Ukraine, the security of the Russian-held Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and prisoner exchanges. The meeting is being held at the initiative of Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky, and many leaders are participating in it directly after the G7 meeting in Italy.
Expect another summit
Switzerland hopes to host another such conference this year and include Moscow. Russia started the war in February 2022 by attacking Ukraine. Hundreds of soldiers have been killed or injured in the war, as well as civilians. Russian shelling has also devastated Ukraine’s infrastructure. Many cities in Ukraine have become complete ruins. Ukraine is still fighting this war because it is getting support from NATO countries and Western countries.
Tags: China, Russia, Russian news, Ukraine news, Vladimir Putin
First published: June 16, 2024, 07:05 IST