War in Ukraine
Klingbeil relies on China’s participation in the peace conference
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil speaks in an interview with journalists from the German Press Agency. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Will Ukraine’s friends stay among themselves at the planned peace conference in Switzerland? SPD leader Klingbeil continues to rely on a country with influence over Russia being included.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil continues to hope that China will continue to participate in the Swiss Ukraine peace conference still promises. “It would of course be crucial for this peace conference that China sits at the table,” he said in an interview with the German Press Agency. This also applies to India, Brazil and South Africa, three other “decisive players” who could use their influence on Russia. “Of course it would be a setback if these states weren’t there.” Even then, one cannot speak of a failure of the conference. “It’s never a failure if you sit down at a table and talk about ways to peace.”
Switzerland has invited around 160 countries to talk about possible paths to lasting peace in Ukraine on June 15th and 16th. Russia, which attacked Ukraine over two years ago, did not receive an invitation. Ukraine, on the other hand, is there.
For the conference to be a success, the hosts now see it as crucial that not only Ukraine’s Western allies are there, but also influential states that are friends of Russia – above all China, Moscow’s most important ally. Swiss President Viola Amherd said during a visit to Berlin on Thursday that more than 50 countries had already agreed, but China had not yet agreed.
As far as the possible results of the conference are concerned, Klingbeil dampened expectations. “I don’t think that the peace conference in Switzerland will now be the turning point. But I believe that we are currently in a phase where every conversation is helpful,” he said. “And in the end it’s also about sending a clear signal to Putin that he is on the wrong side.”