During a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Bern, Swiss President Viola Amherd announced on Monday that Switzerland has extended an offer to organize a peace summit.
The objective of this summit is to facilitate the resolution of Ukraine's ongoing conflict with Russia. The two presidents announced that the Ukrainian and Swiss teams will commence preparations for the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland starting from Tuesday.
Switzerland Agrees to Host Ukraine Peace Summit
Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd (L) and her guest, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (C), inspect the guard of honour, in Kehrsatz near Bern, Switzerland, on January 15, 2024. Zelensky will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos starting on January 16, 2024.
According to ABc News, there is a lack of information regarding the timing and logistics of a potential summit, and it is worth noting that Russia has not been part of the discussions thus far. In a significant development, Ukrainian military chiefs announced on Monday that their forces successfully downed a Russian early warning and control plane along with a key command center aircraft.
If confirmed, this would mark a noteworthy achievement for Ukraine in the ongoing two-year war. On Sunday, Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, participated in talks held in Davos, Switzerland. The discussions involved numerous national envoys and focused on Zelensky's 10-point peace formula, which is intended to contribute to a potential peace summit.
Regarding potential attendees, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine welcomes all nations that uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is clear whom we extend our invitation to. He emphasized Ukraine's strong interest in the participation of countries from the Global South.
Switzerland, known for its commitment to neutrality, has been carefully navigating the situation surrounding Russian President Vladimir Putin's conflict in Ukraine, which started in February 2022. Switzerland has aligned itself with the European Union's sanctions on individuals and entities from Russia in response to the ongoing conflict.
Read Also: Ukraine Destroys 2 Russian Control, Command Aircraft-Here's Why It's a Big Achievement for Kyiv
Russia-Ukraine War
On Monday, the Ukrainian air force announced that it had successfully taken down a Russian Beriev A-50 surveillance plane and an Ilyushin Il-22 airborne command post in the Sea of Azov area.
These spy planes play a crucial role in transmitting information to ground troops and coordinating Russian battlefield maneuvers in Ukraine. If the reports are verified, Ukraine would achieve a significant milestone in its defensive conflict with Russia. The ongoing fighting along the front line has been predominantly characterized by trench warfare and heavy artillery exchanges.
The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, General Valeryi Zaluzhnyi, did not provide details regarding the downing of the two aircraft. Ukraine has recently acquired advanced air defense systems with the support of its Western partners.
Per VOA News, tThe location of the interceptions was not disclosed by Zaluzhnyi. However, he shared a video on his social media post that included an airplane tracker displaying two targets vanishing above the Azov Sea. This body of water is situated between Ukraine and Russia, to the north of the Crimean Peninsula and the Black Sea.
No official comment from Moscow was provided at this time. According to Russian war bloggers, there were claims of friendly fire incidents involving both planes, although no evidence was provided to support these claims. According to reports, the Il-22 reportedly sustained damage but managed to land safely. The A-50, equipped with radar, usually has a crew of 15.
Last year, the Russian defense ministry announced that the upgraded A-50 aircraft had been successfully conducting missions during the war. This advanced aircraft has the capability to detect over 300 targets simultaneously, track missile launches from a distance of 800 kilometers, and identify ground and sea targets up to 300 kilometers away.
The Ukrainian defense ministry has estimated the value of the A-50 at $330 million. According to reports, a fleet of nine aircraft has been operated by the Russian air force.
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