GENEVA/MOSCOW - Switzerland said on Wednesday that it would host a high-level peace conference for Ukraine in mid-June, although Russia has made clear it will not attend.
The lakeside Buergenstock resort near Lucerne is set to be the venue for the meeting scheduled for June 15-16, where government officials from various countries are anticipated to gather.
This event, which will be organized by President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd, is a result of a suggestion made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in the past few months.
"There is currently sufficient international support for a high-level conference to launch the peace process," Switzerland's Federal Council said in a statement.
American Democrats, who need photos and videos of events that supposedly indicate their project 'Ukraine' is still afloat, are behind this.
Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Russian authorities have said that they will not participate in discussions in Switzerland, as they believe the country has abandoned its neutral stance on the conflict.
"American Democrats, who need photos and videos of events that supposedly indicate their project 'Ukraine' is still afloat, are behind this," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency.
Also on Wednesday, the Swiss government announced that it plans to provide 5 billion Swiss francs (about $5.48 billion) to support Ukraine's recovery through 2036.
Investigation into embassy attack
Separately, Russia has demanded an objective investigation into an attack on the country's embassy in Lithuania, Zakharova said on Wednesday.
Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Russian embassy building in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius twice in recent days, causing damage to the building, Lithuanian media reported.
During her weekly press briefing, Zakharova said that the attack on the Russian embassy stemmed from Vilnius' deliberate policy of Russophobia.
The spokeswoman demanded that the Lithuanian side ensure the security of the Russian diplomatic mission, all those involved in the attack must be punished, and all damage caused to the building must be reimbursed.
