World should prepare ground for Ukraine-Russia peace talks – Swiss president

Swiss President Viola Amherd said this before the opening of the Peace Summit, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The situation in the world is difficult, the war goes beyond the borders of Ukraine," Amherd said, adding that Switzerland advocates peace and dialogue.

The world order should be built on the foundations of the UN Charter, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine "deeply violated" it, the politician said. She noted that people in the occupied territories have suffered greatly for almost two-and-a-half years, but the violation of international law harms not only them.

"If we want to inspire the peace process, Russia must join it someday. This is clear to everyone. We as an international community can do our part to prepare the ground for peace talks between the two warring parties. This is what we are here for," Amherd said.

She recalled that 92 countries and 8 international organizations were represented at the peace conference. She said it was important that in addition to Europe, which is widely represented at the Summit, other regions also join it.

"The goal is known: we want to start the process of achieving a just peace in Ukraine based on international law and the UN Charter," Amherd said.