Germany hopes to start a peace process after the end of the Conference. But peace seems like an elusive dream. Russia and China are not participating.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland outside Lucerne on Saturday and the day after tomorrow will result in “something that will bring us closer to peace”. For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the mere fact that the Conference, organized by Switzerland, will take place with the participation of 90 countries and organizations is a success.
Ahead of the Conference in Switzerland, Chancellor Soltz said: “Perhaps a way will be found on the basis of which to start a process, in which Russia will one day participate, when the time is ripe. But this will be decided exclusively by Ukraine.”
The Conference in Switzerland will be held without Moscow and Beijing, despite Germany’s efforts for a Chinese participation. Issues such as the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, securing Ukraine’s grain exports, especially to countries in the southern hemisphere, and the release of children allegedly abducted by Russia from the occupied territories will be at the center of the consultations.
Ukraine needs a total of nine Patriot arrays
For Ukraine, strengthening the country’s defense is a priority and is consistently at the top of Kiev’s agenda. According to President Zelensky, his country will need a total of seven Patriot arrays to protect all major cities and major energy facilities. Germany promised a third system. Many of Berlin’s requests to the Allies for more weapons have so far gone unanswered.
At the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine in Berlin, President Zelensky said: “Germany is at the top of the countries that help Ukraine the most to defend its airspace with Patriot systems. Today there are more options for strengthening our defense than this system. Germany has already saved thousands of Ukrainian lives from Russian terrorism. It is something for which Ukraine will always be grateful. Because it brings us closer to the end of the war.”
According to the Ukrainian president, Russia should not have the initiative for the next day’s actions in Ukraine. “Because Moscow’s vision for the end of the war became more than clear on the first day of the invasion,” emphasized Volodymyr Zelensky.
Editor: Stefanos Georgakopoulos
Source :Skai
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