The Swiss government says it will host a high-level conference in June seeking peace in Ukraine.
The announcement made on Wednesday said the venue will be the Burgenstock resort in central Switzerland.
Swiss President Viola Amherd told reporters that the aim of the conference is to find possibilities and ways to start the peace process. She said holding the conference shows there is support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Switzerland’s foreign ministry says it wants to invite leaders or other representatives from about 120 countries. But it says it is still uncertain if Russia will take part.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke to reporters on Tuesday after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing.
Lavrov said he and the Chinese side confirmed that any international efforts that do not take into account Russia’s position are doomed to be futile.
Ukraine has a 10-point peace plan that calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Sources close to the matter say an unofficial meeting of senior government officials from relevant countries was held in Kyiv last month and Ukraine proposed holding a high-level conference in Switzerland as early as June.