Expert, uphill climb for Lucerne peace conference

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 15 GIU - "The Peace Conference set for June 15 and 16 in Lucerne has turned into an occasion for diplomatic confrontation, from which Russia and Ukraine seek to profit and position themselves. Despite the efforts, often under wraps, of the President of the Helvetic Confederation Viola Amherd, the conference seems to be facing an uphill climb." That is what Arduino Paniccia, professor of strategic studies and President of Asce, School of Economic Warfare and International Competition in Venice, said on the sidelines of an academic meeting held in Udine about the Peace Conference opening in Switzerland today.
    The expert, after pointing out that "Putin, uninvited, again branded the conference as useless," while Zelensky, in close contact with the Swiss authorities, "failed to secure the important presence of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who unceremoniously marched out," pointed out that "the Eurasian bloc appears, even on this occasion, cohesive in not participating, while Biden's hesitations seem to confirm rumors of a rift within the NATO front, first of all motivated by the reluctance of many alliance members to attack bases and positions within the Russian Federation." According to Paniccia, "the most positive note of the affair appears, however, to be the fact that among the at least 70 countries that have given membership are all Europeans and, therefore, it will be a first official attempt to find a mediation that is not just the result of individual initiatives such as those of Erdogan." This potential for European mediation adds a significant dimension to the conference.
    "In essence," the expert concludes, "although enlarged, the conference is being pushed and supported by Europe, which has understood that it is crossed by a new frontier between East and West, between democracies and autocracies, which also involves it at the forefront on the future of security and defense, which remained suspended after the fall of the Berlin wall." (ANSA).