Bern: Switzerland has noted a surge in cyberattacks and disinformation leading up to a crucial summit this weekend aimed at forging a pathway to peace in Ukraine, the government disclosed on Monday.
Ninety states and organizations are slated to participate in the talks scheduled to convene at a resort near Lucerne from June 15-16, with about half hailing from South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, according to Swiss authorities.
While Russia has not received an invitation, the Swiss government clarified that the objective of the summit is to “jointly define a roadmap” for involving both Russia and Ukraine in future peace initiatives.
Swiss President Viola Amherd, speaking at a press conference, acknowledged the recent uptick in cyber assaults. When questioned about personal attacks against her in Russian media, she stated, “We haven’t summoned the ambassador. That’s how I wanted it, because the disinformation campaign is so extreme that one can see that little of it reflects reality.”
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis noted a conspicuous “interest” in disrupting the talks but refrained from attributing responsibility when asked if Russia was involved.
Switzerland agreed to host the summit at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, seeking to garner support among nations with closer ties to Moscow than leading Western powers.
Although Russia has dismissed the summit as futile, Cassis emphasized the necessity of Russian involvement in the peace process.
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The absence of Russia has led influential allies such as China to question the efficacy of peace talks without the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, tempering expectations for significant breakthroughs in Switzerland.
The summit agenda includes discussions on global concerns like nuclear and food security, freedom of navigation, and humanitarian issues such as prisoner exchanges, Swiss officials outlined.
Turkey and India are confirmed participants, though the level of representation is unspecified. Participation from Brazil and South Africa remains uncertain.
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Approximately half of the participating countries will be represented by heads of state or government, according to Switzerland.
The summit aims to conclude with a unanimous final declaration and outline the next steps in the peace process.
Regarding the succession of Switzerland in the process, Cassis hinted at initiatives underway involving “outside the western part of the world”, potentially broadening inclusion of the “Global South and Arabian countries” in the process.
