(Dan Tri) – After planning to hold a peace conference in June, Switzerland clearly stated its view that all diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict will be fruitless without participation.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (Photo: Reuters).

Switzerland is planning to host a high-level Ukrainian peace conference in June at the Burgenstock resort, aiming to `create a common understanding on a favorable framework` to end the conflict and establish a `road map`.

Speaking to the media on April 10, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said that the conference was organized at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

`The first country we talked to after Ukraine was of course Russia. Because no peace process can take place without Russia, even if it is not present at the first meeting,` he said.

This diplomat admitted that sooner or later Moscow will have to participate in the peace conference, but not necessarily from the beginning.

Swiss President Viola Amherd said: `We will not sign a peace plan at this conference. We think there will be a second conference, but we want to start that process with this conference.`

To date, Russia has confirmed that it will not attend the Ukrainian peace conference organized by Switzerland even if invited.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said last month that before any negotiations begin, Kiev must lift the ban on contacts with Russia’s current leadership.

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have been stalled since March 2022.

In an interview with the media, Austrian Prime Minister Karl Nehammer also stated his opinion that Russia needs to sit at the negotiating table to end the conflict in Ukraine.

According to him, the war can only end through diplomacy with Russia.

The Austrian leader is also concerned about the risk of the Ukrainian conflict spreading and getting out of control.

`At first, people (Western countries) announced that they would only provide ammunition and weapons to help Ukraine defend itself. Then, many taboos suddenly ceased to be taboos. The West provided aid with tanks and