Global leaders are assembling in Switzerland for a conference intended to pressure Russia into ending its war in Ukraine. However, the non-attendance of significant Russian allies like China is expected to diminish the event's potential effect.

Notable attendees include U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris along with the leaders of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, who are set to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the summit beginning this Saturday.

Countries such as India, Turkey, and Hungary, which have maintained more amicable ties with Russia, are also anticipated to participate.

Despite this, China's decision to stay away, coming after Russia was excluded and labeled the gathering as “futile,” suggests it had no interest in joining.

Without China's presence, attempts by Western nations to isolate Russia have been undermined, compounded by recent setbacks on the battlefield for Ukrainian forces.

"The summit might expose the limitations of Ukrainian diplomacy," stated Richard Gowan, United Nations director at the International Crisis Group. "Even so, it's a platform for Ukraine to remind the world it's upholding the principles of the UN Charter."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the event as a significant step toward progress. "Many peace and security questions will be discussed, but not the most critical ones. That was always the intention," he conveyed to Welt TV before heading to Switzerland. "This is a small initiative that needs nurturing, with hopes that it will yield more results in the future."

Poland's President Andrzej Duda stated the summit aims to underscore the global threat posed by Russia, especially to more distant nations.

Demands from Moscow

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia would cease hostilities if Ukraine abandoned its NATO aspirations and ceded control of four provinces claimed by Moscow – demands Kyiv promptly rejected as tantamount to surrender.

Ukraine and the U.S. quickly dismissed Putin’s prerequisites, yet his comments seemed to signify a growing confidence in Russia’s upper hand in the conflict.

Scholz remarked: “Everyone knows this proposal wasn't sincere and was related to the peace conference in Switzerland.”

Russia portrays its military actions in Ukraine as part of a broader conflict with the West, which it alleges aims to subjugate Russia. Ukraine and Western countries, however, deny this, accusing Russia of pursuing an unlawful war of conquest.

Switzerland, hosting the summit at the request of Zelenskyy, aims to prepare the groundwork for a future peace process that involves Russia.

Approximately 90 countries and organizations have pledged to attend the two-day meeting set to take place at the Buergenstock, a mountain resort in central Switzerland.