Ukraine set to hold Peace Summit by year's end and invite Russia to participate

Source: Reuters

Kyiv wants to see Russia join a peace summit that is set to be held by the end of this year, according to Ukraine’s envoy to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar. However, he ruled out the possibility of direct bilateral negotiations with Moscow during the summit.

The ambassador though ruled out the idea of direct talks.

“One of the most important goals of this summit is to reach a fair peace in Ukraine. We are not talking about a format here in which Ukraine and Russia sit across (from) each other and Ukraine listens to Russia’s demands,” added

The summit is expected to create a ‘list’ of the conditions that help find the resolution to the conflict.

“What we see now is this: the international community, along with Ukraine, will sit and create a list on what steps could be taken for a fair peace in Ukraine, and they will discuss what sort of demands to ask Russia based on that list,” he said.

Bodnar sounded optimistic arguing such meeting can be arranged within 3 months.

“We hope to hold this summit by the end of the year,” he added.

Turkey will play a crucial role in the summit, given its experience in mediating other conflicts and wars, according to Bodnar.

Ukraine set to hold Peace Summit by year’s end and invite Russia to participate